Turnitin (Tii) is an anti-plagiarism software platform that compares text to archived papers, situated within a massive database and the World Wide Web (WWW).

The University of the Western Cape implemented the effective use of the platform since 2008. The CIECT team promotes the platform as a developmental tool (rather than punitive).

Staff and students have been trained and supported in order to make use of the ‘OriginalityCheck’ tool. Hence, users (staff and students) have engaged in the platform to:
– Generate originality reports,
– Review reports;
– Set-up classes and assignments (for student submissions, single or multiple);
– Set-up parameters related to submissions; and
– Communicate directly with student classes (specifically related to submissions).

The Turnitin Platform consists of tools which are able to enhance teaching-and-learning environments. These include, the following features:

OriginalityCheck (additional feature):
The ‘OriginalityCheck tool’ creates an Originality Report which reflects ‘similarity matches’. An additional feature displays an easy to read list format.

GradeMark digital assessment
The GradeMark tool allows instructors to review papers and provide feedback. In addition to this, students are able to view their instructor’s feedback within the Tii (online platform).

PeerMark
Students will be able to review their peers’ papers (submissions) within the PeerMark tool. However, the lecturer (Instructor) is responsible for setting-up this tool which hosts features, such as: ‘free response’; and ‘scaled questions’.

Grade book
The Grade book is used to track student submissions and can be exported to Microsoft Excel for an offline digital copy.

Contact the CIECT Team for training and support. Please call Mr Faried Ahmed to organise Departmental (group) sessions (x2504) and email: fahmed@uwc.ac.za

Law Faculty lecturers (across Departments and Centres) have created blended learning environments within the institutional Learning Management System (LMS), iKamva (Sakai).

These lecturers have consulted the CIECT team to create interactive blended learning spaces, which support their traditional practices. Since the start of the 2016, the CIECT team has conducted thirteen (13) consultations with lecturers from various Law Departments. A number of 51 online modules have been created during Semester 1.

These blended learning spaces are designed and developed in incremental phases (in collaboration with the Instructional Designer, Subject-matter expert, and Teaching Assistants).

Students across the Law Faculty are able to engage in these online spaces to:
– Access shared resources (case studies, lecture slides, homework tasks, articles, etc.) in a structured manner;
– Communicate with lecturers and peers the discussion forum (various topics related to specific case-studies);
– Receive course communication via the ‘Announcement tool’ (linked to their student GMail accounts); and
– Engage and submit formative and summative activities within eAssessment tools (‘Test & Quizzes’ and ‘Assignments’).

**It should be noted that students are able to engage in reflective practices and group assignments. In addition, students are able to complete ‘take-home exams’ via the ‘Assignment tool’.

** Some lecturers have also made use of the eAssessment tools to setup online Course Evaluations. This enables students to evaluate the module by completing a survey within iKamva (related to content, facilitation, and application).