[Open] Turnitin rubrics and sliding scales

We have identified a bug in Turnitin rubrics, in which using the sliding scale to update a score does not update the number correctly.

Therefore, we recommend that, if you use the rubric slider to apply a grade, you should click on the rubric slider scale circle (please see the screenshot below) once you have positioned it, in order to fix the number. This should allow you to apply the grade without issues.

Turnitin is planning to address the issue in a future update of the product.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

Turnitin AI writing detection scores in December and early January

There was a temporary disruption in access to Turnitin’s AI writing detection tool between 1 and 5 January, which has now been resolved. Submissions affected by this issue will need to be re-submitted to receive a report. Instructions on how to resubmit can be found below.

We appreciate your patience and understanding and apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please email us at digital-education@bristol.ac.uk if you have any questions regarding the AI missing scores.

How to regenerate the AI scores when needed

Step 1. Create a hidden Turnitin submission point

Create a content area which is hidden from students in your course:

  1. Ensure that Edit Modeis On.
  2. Move your mouse pointer over the + symbol above the course menu and select Content Area. Type in a name for the area (eg Turnitin hidden).
  3. Leave Available to Usersunticked and click on Submit.

Add the Turnitin submission point in the hidden content area:

  1. Click on the hidden content area in the left menu.
  2. Expand the Build Contentmenu and click Turnitin Assignment (LTI). At this point you will go into the Turnitin interface.
  3. Enter the Assignment Title (eg Turnitin checks). Add a point value.
  4. Set start, due and feedback release dates.
  5. Click on Optional Settingsto set Turnitin options.
    1. Make sure Submission settings are set to Do not store the submitted papers
  6. When finished, click on Submit.
  7. Click on the arrow next to the submission point you have just created and make unavailable. This will ensure if folder becomes visible students will not be able to access the Turnitin submission point.

Hide the Grade Centre column for the Turnitin assignment from students:

  1. In the Control Panel, click on Grade Centre, then Full Grade Centre.
  2. Find the Turnitin submission point column and click the arrow next to the title.
  3. Click Hide from Students (on/off). A red diagonal line through a circle should appear next to the name to indicate that the column is not visible to students.

Step 2. Download original assignments from Turnitin

  1. Access the original Turnitin submission point.
  2. In the Assignment Inbox, sort the submission by Uploaded date.
  3. Identify the assignments that did not get an AI writing score (if submissions are anonymous, you will need to reveal the author of the paper). Select the papers you have identified by checking the boxes in the first column.
  4. Click on Download Selected and choose Original Files. A ZIP file containing the selected papers will download.
  5. Unzip the folder and make sure you can associate the downloaded files with their author, by renaming the paper using the student number.

Step 3. Upload the assignments to Turnitin

  1. Open the hidden Turnitin submission point that you have created.
  2. Click on the Submit on behalf of student menu and find the student you would like to submit on behalf of.
  3. A message will appear asking you whether you would like to proceed? Click on Continue.
  4. Choose the file corresponding to the student.
  5. Click on Upload and Review and in the preview page make sure you are uploading the correct file.
  6. If you have confirmed that the uploaded file is correct, then click on the Submit to Turnitin button.
  7. Repeat step 3 for each file you need to upload.

Step 4. AI and similarity scores

Please keep in mind that the intention of this guide is to regenerate the AI writing score. Please refrain from focusing on the similarity score, as it will return a high similarity since it will be compared against the originally submitted file.

New feature in Turnitin: Assignment Copy

Turnitin has introduced a new feature called Assignment Copy, which allows instructors to copy assignment setups for re-use.

This feature streamlines the workflow for staff in several ways; for instance, you can:

  • Copy assignment setups from previous years’ courses into brand new courses for the upcoming academic year, with updated dates
  • Create a new set of assignments and then copy those assignment setups into multiple different courses, using the same assignment dates
  • Create one assignment setup as a template and then copy that assignment setup multiple times within a course.

This feature is not limited to instructors who created the original assignment. Any instructors who were associated with the assignment will be able to use it for copying. Please note that staff enrolled in a very large number of courses (over 1200) might experience a slight delay when accessing assignments to copy.

Instructions on how to use Assignment Copy can be found on Turnitin’s website. If you have any queries about using this feature, please email digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

[Closed] Turnitin service incident, 2 November

Turnitin is currently experiencing an unexpected service incident.

During this time, you may find that you are unable to log in or access reports.

Users accessing these services via Blackboard may also be affected.

Further information is available on the Turnitin status page.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us by emailing digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

Changes to bulk upload for Turnitin similarity reports

Turnitin has just informed us of its decision to cease support for assignment submissions on behalf of non-enrolled students, effective from 19 September. Submission on behalf of non-enrolled students is an integral part of the workflow that allowed instructors to bulk upload Blackboard assignments to turnitinuk.com to generate similarity reports.

From 19 September, student administrators who wish to continue using Turnitin similarity reports for Blackboard assignments will have to manually associate each submission with an enrolled student, following upload. If this is not feasible – due to large cohort size, for example – we recommend switching to using Turnitin assignments for student submissions, rather than Blackboard assignments. (If the submission requires multiple files per student, you will need two submission points: one via a Turnitin assignment, to generate the similarity report, and another via a Blackboard assignment, to manage the additional files.)

For group submissions, files must be submitted via Blackboard assignments; you will then need to download one file per group using the Marks and Feedback tool. Afterwards, you will upload these files to Turnitin and manually associate each of them with one group member in order to generate a similarity report.

More detailed guides for the options suggested here will be made available shortly.

If your school will be affected by Turnitin’s decision, please contact the DEO to notify us of the number of units that will be affected, by emailing us at digital-education@bristol.ac.uk

[Open] Turnitin intermittent loading error for staff

It has been reported that staff may be experiencing intermittent issues with slowness when opening the Feedback Studio in Turnitin, and receiving errors when attempting to grade or add feedback.

Students making submissions are not affected by this issue.

Turnitin UK is aware of the issue and is currently working to bring the service back to optimum health. We will update this blog with any further developments.

If you have any concerns or questions, please contact us by emailing digital-education@bristol.ac.uk.

[Resolved] Issue affecting marking groups in Turnitin

To fix the issue affecting marking groups in Turnitin, please try refreshing the Assignment Inbox, using the refresh button in the top right-hand corner.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Click on the Turnitin submission point to access the Assignment Inbox
  2. Make sure the first filter is set to All Students
  3. Click the Refresh Inbox Data button with a circular arrow, in the top right-hand corner of the Assignment Inbox
  4. Try the filter again (if it still doesn’t work, please close and re-open the submission point)
  5. If steps 1-4 do not work, please try accessing Turnitin from within the Grade Centre at least once using “Mark User Activity” (and close and re-open the course if required)

[Closed] Issue affecting marking groups in Turnitin

We are aware of an issue affecting the availability of marking groups when attempting to filter by marking group in the Turnitin inbox. We’re currently in contact with our service suppliers and will be looking to get this resolved as soon as we can.

In the meantime, Markers can locate their students in the unfiltered assignment inbox and select them to carry on with the marking.