Is there a way to use Turnitin when using discussion forums? What about AI detector when using Discussion forums?

[lwallis]

Is there a way to use Turnitin when using discussion forums? What about AI detector when using Discussion forums?

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @lwallis,

I cannot speak for other features or functionality with other originality checkers or AI detectors but Turnitin does not integrate with discussions in Canvas and only integrates with assignments.

I have heard from Turnitin that they are aware of the desire for Turnitin to integrate with Canvas discussions and that they are working on something like that but nothing else (at least not that I have seen) stated publicly.

Using Turnitin and Canvas, the only way that you can do this is if you:

1. have students type their discussion posts/replies originally in something like Microsoft Word and save it as either a DOC/DOCX or PDF file
2. you create a Canvas assignment and configure it to use Turnitin
3. students submit their DOC/DOCX or PDF into the Canvas assignment
4. students copy the text of their post out of Microsoft Word
5. students paste the text of their post into a discussion post/reply

As you can see, that requires double the work, can lead to confusion (unless expectations are thoroughly communicated and understood and acknowledged by students), and is not ideal for the back-and-forth dialogue that is expected with a discussion.

Maybe someone else has figured out another way to do it with Turnitin but I have not.

-Doug

[c_perrottet]

It is frustrating, because Populi, which is much more limited than Canvas, allows instructors to apply Turnitin to discussions (not automatic like for submissions, but manual, which is still a big advantage). 

[dbrace]

Hi @c_perrottet,

I do not know anything more than what is posted at https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Product-Roadmap/ct-p/canvas-product-roadmap but something is supposed to be coming soon.

Stay tuned!

-Doug 

[jsowalsk]

@lwallis Unfortunately, there is no way to make this happen.

[nbruenin]

Some instructors are using the LTI Harmonize in discussions. The product can check for AI if the post is over 300 words. But the product itself is hard to use and keep track of the threads. I don't like how messy it is; I've heard from some of my students at my community college that they don't like it either. Not all institutions can/will subscribe to it. 

I would really like for Canvas to integrate Turnitin or some sort of AI checker into their discussion feature. If they don't, maybe some other LMS will and pull customers away.

[dbrace]

I do not know the exact timing or have any specific details but I would recommend checking the Canvas Product Roadmap and its "NOW" section (which is currently labeled as "Q3 2025"; July, August, September).

A screenshot of what currently appears for "Canvas LMS" is attached, along with a specific section expanded.

Something similar also appears in the full Instructure Roadmap for "NOW | Q3 2025" under the "AI Tools to Save Educators Time" section. Only that specific section is attached as a screenshot.

[nbruenin]

Thanks for those helpful screenshots. I don't see the availability yet for this in my course discussions, but I look forward to having the feature.

[WhitniBuckles]

disappointing, but now it says this is a "next" feature.