Northumbria Learning, providers of digital education services, has been working with Edexcel for some time in the common interest of preserving the integrity of qualifications in the UK.

Northumbria Learning is now working wiht Edexcel on a new plagiarism and prevention strategy.  This includes the use of plagiarism detection software Turnitin, in the assessment of scripts submitted for GCSE, GCE and other suitable qualifications.

Turnitin is a web-based package which compares the submitted document with its database containing all webpages, journals and several thousand published books. It then produces a report identifying any parts of the document which are the same as material in its database.

The use of Turnitin will initially be limited to cases where plagiarism and cheating are suspected and will help Edexcel to deal more effectively and efficiently with these cases.

The Turnitin software will be used within Edexcel’s Compliance and Quality Management Department for the analysis of work which has been submitted for moderation in May 2006. The software will support the existing work of the compliance team to investigate and assess individual cases of suspected malpractice.

The Turnitin software will help to speed up the investigative process, which currently relies on   moderators’ knowledge of their subject, to identify instances of malpractice and plagiarism. After a script is submitted to the Turnitin software, a customised ‘Originality’ report will be produced. Results are based on exhaustive searches of billions of pages from both current and archived instances of the internet, and commercial databases of journal articles and periodicals. The software will be applicable for work submitted across subjects, including other European languages.

Reports compiled by the Turnitin software will form part of the evidence base, which Edexcel builds up, before presenting its findings to the heads of the students’ schools and colleges involved.

The use of Turnitin by the compliance team at Edexcel will really put the software to the test. Used by experts in their field, its effectiveness in identifying malpractice will be under close scrutiny.

At the end of the trial period, use of Turnitin by the compliance team will be reviewed, with the possibility of continued use.

Alan Read, Strategic Consultant at Edexcel said, ‘The strategy will include the adaptation of assessment design to make assessment more resilient to plagiarism, and the use of detection services for internal qualification assessment and moderation. Use of detection services for BTEC verification, roll-out and adoption strategy, and design and implementation for all assessment centres will also be involved in the approach’.

John Black, Edexcel’s Head of Compliance & Quality Management commented, “Edexcel is utilising technology in the assessment of candidate’s work across our qualifications. We are keen to investigate how Turnitin can assist the detection of plagiarism, thereby underpinning the integrity of the examination system and maintaining standards. Additionally, this software will also benefit head teachers by providing detailed information and evidence, which they can use when discussing plagiarism with colleagues and candidates. We are determined to ensure that those who cheat are caught”.

Ends/..
This article was first published in the second Nortumbria Learning newsletter