Turnitin (plagiarism check)

Turnitin supports the checking of academic texts for plagiarism. Teachers can have written work automatically checked for matches with internet sources, scientific databases and previously submitted work.

Teachers have the option of using Turnitin as part of their courses to check written coursework or examinations for plagiarism. Students can also do this in selected courses and after consultation with their lecturers. The results can be used to discuss aspects of academic work.

The Teaching Service Center supports lecturers in using the software in teaching, while the IT Service Center ensures technical operation.

Turnitin is a web-based plagiarism detection program that can be used directly as stand-alone software via https://www.uni-kassel.de/go/turnitin as well as via the "Assignment" and "Mutual Assessment" activities in Moodle. Turnitin automatically checks submitted academic texts for plagiarism and text similarities to other sources. Teachers receive detailed reports that flag similarities with publications and other student work. These reports can also be made available to students via Moodle.

There are currently no other centrally provided plagiarism detection systems in use.

• Similarity check: Comparison of the submitted texts with online sources, publications and previously submitted works.
• Similarity report: Visualization of potentially adopted text passages including source references.
• Direct integration into Moodle: Lecturers can use Turnitin via the "Assignment" activity and via the "Mutual assessment" activity in Moodle. This makes it possible for students to automatically receive the result of their plagiarism check as a report.
• Adjustable check options: Customization of comparison sources, storage in databases, exclusion of citations or bibliographies possible. In Moodle: optional provision of the report for teachers and students.

• In a proseminar, students upload their assignments via Moodle. Turnitin automatically creates a similarity report for each paper, which the teacher can use for individual assessment.
• In a project, a teacher uses Turnitin to check interim results and provide feedback on good scientific practice.

• Web browser,
• University account (lecturer status)
• Further technical requirements, instructions and support contact:
  www.uni-kassel.de/go/turnitin-support

Teachers have direct access to Turnitin with their UniAccount. In addition, teachers can activate Turnitin in a Moodle assignment or in the Moodle activity "Mutual assessment". Students can then access the results of the plagiarism check of their documents via a Moodle course.

You can find introductions to Turnitin here: https://www.uni-kassel.de/go/turnitin-support

No regular training courses are currently offered. For didactic questions or introductory scenarios, please contact the team at the Teaching Service Center

Turnitin is used in compliance with data protection regulations. Before submitting student work, lecturers must ensure that no personal data is included in the document to be checked. In this way, the plagiarism check is pseudonymized.

Texts can be stored in the database either permanently or only temporarily. Storage is not mandatory for the plagiarism check. Important data protection information before uploading documents can be found on the Turnitin (Moodle) information pages.

Turnitin is available to teachers for non-commercial use in the context of teaching. The license conditions are based on the agreements of the university network.