Turnitin is a new feature for both students and instructors at CapU.  CTE recommends the following steps to ensure that Turnitin is an effective tool in your course: 

1. Include an advisory in your course syllabus to let students know that you will be using Turnitin in your course.  Suggested wording: 
   

   If you plan to use the Turnitin similarity detection services for ALL Assignment or Forum activities in your course…

   If you plan to use the Turnitin similarity detection services for selected, suspect submissions…

   Written work for this course will be submitted via Turnitin, a third-party service licensed for use by Capilano University. Turnitin is used for text-matching to help detect plagiarism. Students will be required to agree to Turnitin’s end-user license agreement when submitting the first submission on eLearn.  All submitted submissions will be included in the Capilano University dedicated database of submissions at Turnitin and will be used solely for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process during this term and in the future. Any student with a concern regarding using this service should contact the instructor to make alternative arrangements. This service is compliant with British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

   Students should be aware that suspect submissions (e.g., those without works cited, or with significant differences in style) may be submitted to Turnitin by the instructor for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism. Submitted submissions will be included in the Capilano University dedicated database of submissions at Turnitin and will be used solely for the purpose of checking for possible plagiarism during the grading process during this term and in the future.  Students must provide an electronic copy of their submission to the instructor for submission to the service when plagiarism is suspected, to receive a grade on the submission and to avoid possible sanctions.  This service is compliant with British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

    

2. Include an overview on your course eLearn page or on your Forum/Workshop/Assignment handout explaining how Turnitin works.  Suggested wording is available here. 
3. Include an orientation exercise in one of your classes before the first assessment is due so students know what to expect.  Suggested exercise is available here. 

Please note: CTE encourages faculty to allow students to view their Similarity Report prior to the date of submission for an Assignment activity so they can improve their writing.  For the Forum activity, the limited editing timeframe (30 minutes) may not make this a viable option.