Turn-it In

Recently, Charlie Lowe posted a note on techrhet regarding both the conversation going on over at Kairosnews between the Turnitin representative and Knews members as well as a link to the 4C's-Intellectual Property Caucus page containing a draft of "The Plagiarism Detection Services Statement." 

Revised  by committee members Lisa Maruca, Sally Chandler, Wendy Austin and Becky Howard, the draft is open for review until September 26, 11:59 p.m. PDT.  If, after reading it, you have any suggestions for "minor tweaks," leave a message at the site.

I've already skimmed the document and can say that it brings to the forefront the limitations of PDS (plagiarism detection software), including the impact it has on the instructor's role in the classroom and at the institution, and how that further impacts the way students view writing and attribution. So often, in my opinion, institutions reach for programs like TII because they want a quick fix for the sometimes overwhelming world of online paper mills and subsequent plagiarism that can result.  In my mind, it's an understandable reaction, but, like most first impulses, should be carefully examined before being acted upon.  I can understand how it would seem to be a time saver for the instructor, especially an adjunct who may be teaching too many comp classes just to sustain a living, and how in the short run, it can make plagiarism detection more certain, if only in those cases of downloaded papers or research. 

However, using a program like TII carries with it too many other problems, ethical and practical, to be ultimately useful.  For one thing, it doesn't catch all forms of plagiarism, so if the student is paying a buddy to write his papers for him, then, that's still going to happen.  For another thing, such programs work to decenter the teacher from the classroom--or subtly work to remove some of our authority as instructors--even if we insist right now that we are in control, how do we manage the gradual change in how everyone looks to is if we are outsourcing parr of what should be our job?

The PDS Statement, because it is an effort to look at the larger picture of authority and author-ity, not only critiques PDS, but offers ideas for dealing with plagiarism and suggestions about what we can be doing now to persuade others to either stop  or avoid using PDS.   

( As an aside, can I just say that I've always hated the name "TurnitIn" ?  If ever a title suggested criminality. . .I always imagine a student being lead away in handcuffs.  Sure, the expression probably came from turning in papers, but it's all of those secondary images that come to mind, especially when one is an English instructor. . . .)

Comments

[macncheese]

Thanks for posting about this. I'm sharing the info with colleagues, as they've been having a discussion about whether or not to continue using TurnItIn over the last year or so. I've been hesitant to use it so far, and reading more has only reinforced some of my initial feelings about the program.