Blackboard
Turnitin can be integrated into Blackboard Academic Suite/Learn using the Blackboard Direct plugin released in 2011. The Turnitin team is working on a new version of the Blackboard Direct Plug-in, Blackboard Direct V2. See below for details on this new release.
Turnitin Roadmap for Blackboard
Turnitin plans to release a New Blackboard Direct Plug-in (BB Direct V2) in the first half of 2014. The new Direct Plug-in will:
- Include an administrative tool to aid in the migration of data from Blackboard Basic to Blackboard Direct
- Support the use of Turnitin PeerMark in Turnitin Direct Assignments
- Support the use of the Turnitin Rubric Manager in Turnitin Direct Assignments
- Include an administrative tool to create Turnitin courses in bulk after use of the Blackboard snapshot process to copy courses and assignments
- Have improved efficiency and reliability as a result of being built on the new toolset for Turnitin integrations
Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI)
Turnitin is planning to launch a new API compliant with IMS LTI 1.1 In Q4 of 2013 . Via this new LTI API, Blackboard users may access Turnitin as an LTI tool launch.
Some customers may be using the legacy Blackboard Basic plug-in.
Turnitin will work with customers to migrate from Blackboard Basic to Blackboard Direct V2 or LTI in preparation for full retirement of the Blackboard Basic plug-in no earlier than Q1 2015.
Overview of legacy Blackboard plug-ins
Two separate plug-ins were developed to support the use of Turnitin within Blackboard. These are Blackboard Direct, and Blackboard Basic. There are advantages and disadvantages to using either of these legacy solutions. In Blackboard Direct V2, The Turnitin team will provide a simplified solution which affords all of the advantages of the legacy solutions while avoiding the current disadvangaes of each.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Blackboard Basic plug-in?
Blackboard Basic for Academic Suite/Learn
A framed in 'shallow' integration that allows users log into Turnitin from a Turnitin Activity via Singe Sign On (SSO).
Advantages:
- Supports the full suite of tools available through Turnitin. This is achieved by 'single signing' users into the actual Turnitin product.
- Does not support the use of the Blackboard snapshot process to copy courses and assignments
- Uses pseduo information for student user accounts in Turnitin; which can lead to licensing issues and user conflicts
- Embeds the Turnitin user interface into the Blackboard user interface, resulting in a disjointed user experience
- Requires the use of a separate workflow to use Turnitin -Turnitin is treated as a unique activity type in Blackboard
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the existing Blackboard Direct plug-in?
Blackboard Direct for Academic Suite/Learn
A custom contributed activity module that gives users a workflow / UI that is separate from the standard Blackboard components. The concept behind Blackboard Direct is to provide the Turnitin experience from within the Blackboard environment.
Advantages:
- Provides a more Blackboard-like experience for delivering Turnitin OriginalityCheck and GradeMark services
- Supports use of the snapshot process for copying classes and assignments via forced Turnitin re-link the first time each course is accessed.
- Does not support full suite of Turnitin products including PeerMark and Turnitin Rubric Manager
- Requires the use of a separate workflow to use Turnitin; Turnitin is treated as a unique assignment type in Blackboard
How do I retain Turnitin data when migrating to a new version of Blackboard?
Turnitin uses the Blackboard database primary key IDs (PKIDs) to associate Turnitin users, courses and assignments in Blackboard. When migrating to a new version of Blackboard, upgrading a Blackboard server, or making any changes to the Blackboard system which would result in deleting or changing existing PKIDs, you should backup your existing PKIDs for users, courses and assignments. This information is required by our support team to restore your previous data. Prior to upgrading your system, please contact Turnitin support.
