Introducing Turnitin as Our New Academic Plagiarism Detection Solution for TU Dublin
Exciting news! We are moving to Turnitin as our single academic plagiarism detection solution for TU Dublin from July 31st 2023.
Dear Colleagues,
Exciting news! We are moving to Turnitin as our single academic plagiarism detection solution for TU Dublin from July 31st 2023.
Important: The existing Ouriginal/Urkund service will no longer be available from July 26th as we switch over to Turnitin. See below for more information.
What is Turnitin Originality Check?
- Turnitin is a best-in-class educational plagiarism detection software service. Turnitin will be utilised by TU Dublin to ensure the academic integrity of students' work.
- Turnitin compares a student's submission against various sources, including an archive of Internet documents, Internet data, a repository of previously submitted papers, and a subscription repository of periodicals, journals, and publications. Subsequently, Turnitin generates a "Similarity Report" that can be accessed by both instructors and students. This report highlights instances where the text in a student's submission matches another source.
- Turnitin also has the advanced functionality to detect AI writing from GPT-3 and GPT-3.5 language models, which includes ChatGPT.
- The service is fully integrated with Brightspace and Moodle.
- As Turnitin is a partner with D2L Brightspace, all Brightspace staff users can avail of 24/7 support for Turnitin queries.
When will Turnitin Originality Check be available for use?
- The Turnitin originality solution will be accessible from within Brightspace and Moodle from July 31st
When will the existing Ouriginal/Urkund service be turned off?
- The Ouriginal/Urkund service will no longer be available from July 26th as we switch over to Turnitin.
Will I still have access to Similarity reports from Ouriginal/Urkund directly or via Brightspace or Moodle ?
- No.
- We highly recommend that you save any Ouriginal/Urkund similarity reports of importance before July 26th , as you will no longer have access to Ouriginal/Ukrund from July 26th
Will past student submissions be migrated from Ouriginal/Urkund to Turnitin.
- Yes - all past student submissions submitted to Ouriginal/Urkund will be indexed by Turnitin.
Can Turnitin detect AI writing, for example, the use of ChatGPT?
- Yes.
- Currently, Turnitin’s AI writing detection model is trained to detect content from the GPT-3 and GPT-3.5 language models, which includes ChatGPT. Because the writing characteristics of GPT-4 are consistent with earlier model versions, the AI detector is able to detect content from GPT-4 (ChatGPT Plus) most of the time. Turnitin are actively working on expanding their model to enable them to better detect content from other AI language models.
Please note: The AI detection functionality will not be available from July 31st - we plan to run a pilot with academic staff first before enabling the functionality.
What supports or training will be available for academic staff using Turnitin?
- We will be providing a wealth of user guides including videos prior to the launch of Turnitin on July 31st via our VLE microsite.
- Online Turnitin training sessions will be available early in the new academic year - keep an eye out for future communications.
Why are we moving to Turnitin from Ouriginal/Urkund?
Here are some key advantages you can expect from moving from Ouriginal/Urkund to Turnitin.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Turnitin employs state-of-the-art algorithms to identify similarities in written work, enabling a more accurate detection of potential instances of plagiarism. We believe that Turnitin is one of the best products on the market for plagiarism detection.
- AI Writing Detection: Turnitin has released its AI writing detection capabilities to help educators uphold academic integrity while ensuring that students are treated fairly. Turnitin has added an AI writing indicator to the Similarity Report. It shows an overall percentage of the document that AI writing tools, such as ChatGPT, may have generated. The indicator further links to a report which highlights the text segments that their model predicts were written by AI. Please note, only instructors and administrators are able to see the indicator.
- Expansive Database: Turnitin's vast database comprises a wide range of academic materials, including published articles, student papers, and internet sources, offering comprehensive coverage for thorough plagiarism checks.
- Ease of Use: Turnitin integrates with Brightspace and Moodle making for an overall better experience with students and staff. Similarity scores and reports are more accessible for staff and students
- Educational Resources: Turnitin provides a wealth of educational resources. These resources include guides, tutorials, and webinars designed to enhance your understanding of plagiarism detection and prevention techniques.
If you have any questions or queries in relation to the launch or use of Turnitin please contact us on academicaffairs@tudublin.ie