Track H: Using Turnitin

TRACK H - Using Turnitin: From Plagiarism Detection to e-Assessment
Presenter: Franco Raimondi

Franco presented an interesting, informative and often humorous session of his experinces of using Turnitin. Franco explained how students are allowed to submit their work via Turnitin several times as a development and feedback tool as well as a plagiarism detection device. He then went on to explain some of the many creative methods that students have come up with to reduce their plagiarism scores in Turnitin; an eyeopener!!. The session was a thought provoking exploration of both the strengths and weaknesses of Turnitin. Franco concluded by saying that Turnitin is by no means a fool proof method of detecting plagiarism and as such should be treated with caution. However, it has a very useful role to play in supporting students as part of an overall module assessment methodology geared towards developing the students throughout the process of learning and assessment on a module.

Presenter profile - Track H: Franco Raimondi

Franco Raimondi: Using Turnitin: From Plagiarism Detection to E-assessment

Franco Raimondi

I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Engineering and Information Sciences at Middlesex University. My research interests include:

Model Checking for extensions of temporal logics.
Multi-agent systems.
Modal logics.
Formal methods.

I teach Fundamentals of Programming and Management of Information Security. I am a member of the Learning and Teaching Strategy Leaders team for the School of Engineering and Information Sciences. In my session I present my experience with the use of Turnitin as an anti-plagiarism tool and as a tool to support e-assessment.

Presenter profile - Tracks I, K & O: Paul Smith, John Parkinson

Paul Smith: Personal Response System (PRS), Grademark & PowerPoint Narration

Paul is an Educational Technologist in the Educational Development Unit, CLTE at Middlesex University. His interests are in web-based learning systems, Web 2.0 technologies in teaching and learning, classroom technologies and games-based learning.

Paul Smith

The sessions Paul is in involved in running explore varying themes within e-assessment and e-feedback.

• The Personal Response System workshop will offer colleagues the opportunity to experiment with an engaging classroom technology which can help to provide immediate feedback to students based on their answers to quiz questions, and discuss the pros and cons of the use of such technology for formative assessment.
• The Grademark workshop (led by John Parkinson) will give attendees a hands-on experience of an extremely useful online tool which allows academics to read, manage, and leave comments on students’ electronically submitted work.
• The Adobe Presenter session will demonstrate one of the many methods of enhancing your presentations by adding audio to the slides. Participants will be encouraged to relate their own experience of using similar tools and to discuss features that they feel would be useful in the context of using this kind of software to assess and provide feedback to students.

Paul’s experience with various e-learning technologies has proved to him one thing above all else: there is no substitute for practice. Whether you are asking students to submit electronically, or expecting colleagues to mark using certain technology, always make sure you have a trial run before the deadlines are looming. This way both students and staff can concentrate on the tasks at hand rather than struggling with new technology.

Paul's co-presenter: John Parkinson

Presenter profile - Tracks I & K: Paul Smith, John Parkinson

John Parkinson: Personal Response System (PRS) & Grademark

John Parkinson

As a member of the eLearning Support Team John contributes to the development, maintenance and good health of several key online systems within the university. As a graduate of the arts John is always on the lookout for novel and interesting approaches to the delivery of learning and teaching.

The session I am jointly hosting with my colleague Paul Smith explores the functionality of the Grademark tool found within Turnitin. Following the introduction of the eSubmission/eFeedback initiative across the university I feel this workshop offers colleagues a timely opportunity to get some hands-on experience with a very useful bit of technology. Attendees will get to play with the system and develop a feel for the functionality within in a low-pressure environment.

John's co-presenter: Paul Smith