Amidst a plethora of options for plagiarism detection tools in today’s educational market, discerning the appropriate one that aligns with your instructional objectives and student needs is crucial.

On the usage of “plagiarism checker”:

The phrase “plagiarism checker” carries a somewhat negative connotation and infers an accusatory stance, a sentiment not typically embraced by Turnitin. Rather than directly identifying plagiarism, Turnitin generates similarity reports, leaving the final judgement on the originality of the student’s work to the educators and institutional leaders. We understand the commonality of the term about similarity detection tools and acknowledge its general application.

Researchers have posited, “The act of detecting plagiarism is fundamentally an academic judgement, contingent on numerous factors and best left to skilled academics” (Meo & Talha, 2019). Scholars like Foltynek, Guerrero-Dib, and Weber-Wulff have distinguished between plagiarism and text similarity, advocating for human analysis over mere percentages when evaluating student work (Foltýnek, et al., 2020).

Selecting the correct similarity-checking instrument can be challenging for educational leaders. How, then, does one choose the best tool that transcends simple similarity identification, offering an opportunity for growth, and transforming instances of plagiarism into educational opportunities?

Key considerations in assessing plagiarism detectors and similarity identification tools:

Educational leaders should contemplate various pedagogical criteria when selecting such tools. An Edutopia article outlines these as efficacy, student experience, intrinsic motivation, Zone of Proximal Development, and teacher experience (Miller, 2020).

Efficacy:

The effectiveness of a tool in fostering academic integrity and enhancing learning is paramount. Objective academic research and user testimonials can provide clear insights. Turnitin Feedback Studio has been recognized for its efficiency in mitigating plagiarism (Li, et al., 2021; Kostka & Maliborska, 2016; Batane, 2010; Baker, et. al., 2008).

Student experience:

A suitable tool should cater to diverse student needs, ensuring accessibility and ease of use, to foster positive and consistent use. Research has evidenced positive student perceptions towards Turnitin as a beneficial academic tool (Steppenbelt & Rowles, 2009).

Intrinsic motivation:

A tool should facilitate learning, allowing students to set goals and receive feedback. Turnitin, for instance, has been shown to aid students in identifying knowledge gaps and enhancing their academic writing abilities (Orlando, 2018).

Zone of Proximal Development:

Tools that aid in bridging the gap from what learners can do alone to what they can achieve with guidance, thus supporting the ZPD, are essential. Research suggests Turnitin does this effectively (Steppenbelt & Rowles, 2009).

Teacher experience:

Tools must aid teachers in evaluating work and guiding students, while also being user-friendly. Testimonials from educators reflect the positive impacts of Turnitin in the academic environment.

When assessing similarity detection tools, it’s essential to consider factors such as coverage, usability, and the ability to detect AI-generated content. Turnitin and its acquired entities (Unicheck, Plagscan, Urkund) have been noted for their comprehensive coverage and user-friendly interfaces (Foltýnek, et. al., 2020).

As educators, our objective extends beyond detecting potential plagiarism. We aim to equip students with an understanding of originality and proper citation practices. The ultimate goal is deterrence and educational reinforcement rather than mere detection.

Conclusion:

In choosing a solution for your institution, consider whether the tool provides feedback, automates revision support, fosters student growth, and aligns with teaching best practices.

In conclusion, when exploring options for a plagiarism detection tool, ensure that it not only scans for similarity but also promotes a deeper understanding and application of academic integrity within the educational journey.

This blog originally featured on Turnitin’s website, and was adapted by Eiffel Corp.

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Understanding the Importance of Technological Competence When Moving into the Digital Education Space

The past decade has seen the world of higher education gradually shifting. And Covid-19 caused that shift to advance to seismic proportions. Universities and educators, along with students, had to adjust quickly. In response, universities transitioned to online and blended learning models, leaving a lasting impact on teaching modalities. Subsequently, the prowess of digital technology has become more critical than ever. In fact, the shifts have paved the way for various possibilities in higher education.

This shift is not only about using technology for teaching; it encompasses a holistic integration of digital teaching methods, digital literacy for lecturers, and the need for students to be competent in the digital realm. As we delve deeper into the nuances of online and blended learning teaching, the indispensability of technological competence for educators becomes evident.

A Quick Dive Into Research

A recent article published by Modimowabarwa Kanyane in 2023, highlights the unique challenges faced by the South African higher education system. The article states that while there’s a global movement towards integrating digital tools in educational environments, South Africa is faced with challenges caused by tremendous inequalities. This disparity often results in unequal access to digital resources, with a large part of our population lacking access to fundamental utilities like electricity and internet connectivity, let alone advanced digital tools.

We have seen some South African government-driven initiatives to address these disparities. These include Staffing South Africa’s Universities Framework (SSAUF), the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), and the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG). Sadly, a relatively large gap must be addressed to ensure equitable access to digital education tools for educators and students.

The Importance of Technological Competence

With all the challenges we face in South Africa, it can be argued that the immediate needs in the Education Sector should be a first priority. Considering this, there is a need to unpack why technological competence is not only nice to have, but rather crucial in the digital age.

Boosting Digital Literacy: The rise of digital learning platforms has made it imperative for lecturers to be digitally literate. The research underscores that a lecturer’s digital literacy has direct implications on the quality of their teaching using IT. If they aren’t confident about their digital skills, they’re less likely to incorporate technology in education.

Empowering Students for a Digital Society: In a world where digital fluency is no longer optional, universities bear the responsibility of equipping students with the right digital skills. This requires lecturers not only to teach these skills but also to serve as role models in applying them.

Innovation in Teaching Methods: With the increasing adoption of online teaching, educators who can seamlessly integrate IT into their teaching methods can offer a more flexible and personalised learning experience. It goes beyond mere content delivery; it’s about fostering interactive, engaging, and innovative digital environments.

Key Competencies for Technological Competence

To embrace digital teaching and learning and apply the technology available optimally, the following key competencies are highlighted as a foundation for educators.

Summarised and extracted from  “A framework for digital competencies of lecturers” by Jo Tondeur et al.

Essential IT Competencies: The cornerstone of digital education, this involves a lecturer’s prowess in using IT tools effectively, adapting to new tools, and understanding their implications in an educational setting.

Information, Data, and Media Literacy: As the web burgeons with information, lecturers should possess the acumen to find, analyse, and assess the reliability of digital data. Further, understanding copyright nuances, especially in the age of open-source learning, is paramount.

Computational Thinking: This transcends traditional programming. It’s about breaking down complex educational challenges and leveraging technology to address them, ensuring that solutions are not just technically sound but also pedagogically relevant.

Blended Learning Approaches: The amalgamation of traditional classroom teaching with online education offers a balanced learning experience. Lecturers adept in blended learning can effectively juggle between offline and online modules, ensuring consistency in teaching quality.

Embracing Digital Teaching and Learning

It is therefore clear that moving into the digital education space requires more than just a basic understanding of technology. It’s about evolving with the digital tide, ensuring that teaching methods are continually refined, aligned with technological advancements. For educational institutions around the world, investing in professional development that emphasises technological competence is not just beneficial; it’s imperative.

In conclusion, as the realms of education and technology intertwine more intricately, the onus is on educators to stay abreast with the changing digital landscape. After all, in the digital teaching and learning world, technological competence is the linchpin that holds the edifice of modern education together.

We know that technology is evolving rapidly, and it’s essential for higher education to keep pace. For university lecturers and educators who are looking to integrate technology into their teaching methods effectively, we’re here to help. Our Digital Teaching eXpert (DTX) Series is crafted precisely for this purpose. It equips educators in higher education with the most effective tools and strategies for digital teaching.

If you’re a lecturer or educator in higher education eager to enhance your teaching methods for the digital age, reach out to us today.  Learn more: https://newsletter.eiffelcorp.co.za/2021/10/14/secure-your-seats-for-dtx/

References:

Tondeur, Jo & Howard, Sarah & Zanten, Manon & Uerz, Dana & Nackaerts, Ulrike & Kral, Marijke & Gorissen, Pierre & Neut, Irma. (2022). A framework for digital competences of lecturers.

Kanyane, M. (2023). South African higher education system and its digital challenges.

Kimmig, A., Peng, J., & Ovtcharova, J. (2023). Building capacity for Industry 4.0.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Takes the World by Storm

Known as “the imitation of human intelligence’”, AI uses machines, especially computers, to understand, interpret and give practical explanations of the information in question.  Artificial intelligence technology is evolving at a rate never seen before and has made some major waves worldwide, proverbially taking the world by storm – especially in the education sector.

AI enables personalised and adaptable learning experiences. It also helps educators assess and monitor students and design flexible learning tools. On the other hand, however, integrating these tools into education gives rise to specific challenges. Concerns surrounding data privacy, misplaced reliance on tool-generated outcomes, the lack of critical thinking and empathy, and the imperative to ensure equal access to these technologies for all students, regardless of their background and location, are among the prominent issues.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the introduction of AI tools, like ChatGPT, Midjourney, Plaito etc, has led to heated debates on the use of AI in education. While we know that the answer to these debates is complex and certainly not singular.  We do, however, believe that embracing these technologies creates great opportunities within Education, but only if integrated into academics responsibly.

Here is an overview of AI in Education, touching on different AI tools, the impact of AI on education and how we can encourage its responsible use.

The Different AI Tools

Several AI applications have been developed over the past few years that have been and continue to be useful in education. A few examples follow:

• Gradescope – an AI-assisted solution by Turnitin that enables quick and easy grading.
• Ivy Chatbot – used to help institutions by answering questions from students before they could reach a human.
• ChatGPT – the latest AI application developed to have a conversation and assist the end user in a more ‘human’ manner.

Ways in Which Artificial Intelligence (AI) Has Transformed Higher Education

We can no longer avoid AI technology in our daily lives. We have seen it develop from concept to delivery to application in day-to-day activities faster than we ever could have imagined. When Covid-19 first shut down nations, learning had to occur online abruptly.  Thanks to AI technology, some institutions were prepared to deal with the shift in some way and or were at least able to navigate through these changes. This period of fast-paced change forced many to take hold of the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence – often whether they wanted to or not.

Here are a few ways in which these new technologies transform and shape the future of higher education:

Administrative Assistance

AI technologies can automate administrative tasks, such as scheduling, record-keeping, and grading, which helps streamline workflows and saves time for educators. This enables them to focus more on teaching and interacting with students.

Student Engagement

AI-powered tools can enhance student engagement by offering interactive and immersive learning experiences. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications, for example, can provide students with immersive simulations and visualisations, making learning more captivating and stimulating.

Personalised Teaching and Learning

AI algorithms can analyse vast amounts of data about students’ learning patterns, preferences, and progress to provide personalised recommendations and interventions. Adaptive learning platforms can tailor educational content and activities to individual student needs, helping them learn at their own pace and in a way that suits their learning style.

Effective Communication

AI-powered communication tools, such as chatbots or virtual assistants, can assist in addressing students’ queries and providing prompt feedback. These tools can offer 24/7 support, ensuring that students receive timely responses and guidance.

Intelligent Tutoring

AI-based tutoring systems can act as virtual tutors, providing personalised guidance and support to students. These systems can assess students’ knowledge gaps, offer targeted explanations and examples, and track their progress to identify improvement areas.

Data Analysis and Insights

AI can analyse large datasets collected from various sources, such as student performance records, to identify trends, patterns, and insights. Educators can leverage these insights to make data-driven decisions and interventions, improving teaching strategies and student outcomes.

Ensuring the Safe Use of Artificial Intelligence

AI brings many advantages to Education and could mean “better” education experiences and improved student throughput. But concerns raised about data privacy, ethical considerations, and the potential for overreliance on technology at the expense of human interaction, along with equality of access, are not to be ignored. The debate surrounding the integration of AI in education ultimately boils down to finding a balance between leveraging the benefits of AI technology while addressing the associated risks and challenges. It requires careful consideration of ethical implications, privacy safeguards, equitable access to technology, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation of AI systems in educational settings.

As a strategic EdTech partner, we are committed to promoting the safe and responsible use of AI. Through our services and solutions, we aim to support educational institutions in leveraging AI technologies while upholding academic integrity and promoting improved student outcomes. One such partnership that exemplifies this commitment is with Turnitin. Turnitin, an originality-checking and plagiarism-prevention service, helps maintain academic integrity by detecting citation mistakes and inappropriate copying. With the recent introduction of AI writing detection tools, Turnitin further enhances its ability to assist educational institutions and teachers foster a culture of authenticity and integrity.

By embracing AI technology responsibly and working alongside trusted partners like Turnitin, we can create a future where AI empowers learners and educators inclusively while upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and ensuring equitable access to education.

Take Your Next Steps to Mastery 

At Eiffel Corp, we continuously seek ways to create unique solutions to cater to your institution’s needs. We understand that due to the recent changes, especially post-pandemic, institutions are working very hard to identify gaps and improve how teaching and learning occur. This revolution compels us to transform digitally, and so, we are proud to bring you our Steps To Mastery Programme (STM). 

What is the “Steps To Mastery” Programme? 

Facilitated by experienced education and training consultants, the STM Programme is a far-reaching and effective means of identifying strengths and areas of development within an organisation’s digital education strategy, helping your organisation build the capabilities needed to succeed. 

STM Framework Themes 

The Steps To Mastery is divided into 16 categories, which are then summarised into 6 themes below: 

1. Technology – this theme delves into how your institution approaches the adoption and use of technology to support teaching, learning and research.
2. Leadership & Strategy – the extent to which your strategy suits digital transformation, teaching and learning.  
3. Skills – Skills development is vital for a changed teaching & learning environment to ensure the smooth delivery of digital education.
4. Budgets, Finance & Investments – helps you determine the resources your institution needs to invest in to support digital transformation.  
5. Data Analytics – evaluate the use of data analytics to achieve learning success.
6. Teaching & Learning – the process of identifying the application of digital technologies to promote the highest quality academic outcomes and achievements.

Why the STM Programme? 

This programme is designed to be flexible and customisable, so rest assured that it is tailored to your institution’s specific needs. After an extensive evaluation of where your institution is on the digital transformation journey, a report is generated to help us bring forth meaningful discussions for digital education to be effective. This report further identifies the areas where your institution is doing well and what actions should be taken to improve capability. 

Benefits of the STM Programme 

1. Accelerate digital transformation with a deep-dive and guided analysis of your institution’s current and target state.
2. Support, equip and invest in your team to enable student and educator development, and align with your strategic goals for institutional success.
3. Work with our experienced EdTech consultants to facilitate, aid adjustment, and achieve innovation.
4. Explore and identify strengths and areas of development to design a pathway to drive your long-term vision and organisation transformation.

We want to help you meet your digital education needs, so embark on your path to digital excellence today!