[External Tools] Allow teachers to check documents for plagiarism in TurnitIn without original assignment

[WiesnerSusanne]

Problem statement:

Often students email me their assignments rather than submit them on Canvas. I know there is an option to "submit for student" however, that option has some downsides. I believe the assignment needs to be open and unlocked. Further, my institution currently had it turned off (at least for me). When you didn't plan to use TurnitIn right away you can't check for potential plagiarism.

Proposed solution:

Could you implement an option to check documents for plagiarism independent of an assignment?

User role(s):

instructor

[KristinL]

Hi @WiesnerSusanne -

Do you have access to TurnItIn separate from Canvas LMS? If so, you may be able to upload the file on behalf of a student. 

Single-file upload on behalf of a student 

This idea is still in our 'New' status and will be reviewed by our Product Team. However, if you explore TurnItIn and discover that you can complete the task, please update the Community! Thanks!

[WiesnerSusanne]

Hi @KristinL unfortunately my institution currently does not allow that, so I do not have the option. It would help a ton if we could run documents through TurnitIn independent of a student.

Thanks!

[AlexisNast]

Could you provide more information about where in Canvas you would want to be able to access this functionality? I believe it is currently an option if you go through the TurnItIn website, but it sounds like you'd like the option directly from Canvas. I'm not sure where in the UI you would expect this to be placed however.

This is probably not something that Instructure can achieve on its own, but with this additional information I can share the request with our contacts at TurnItIn to see what it would take to move this idea forward.