New software helps protect against plagiarism

A new software package called Safe Assign, part of the enhanced version of the course software HuskyCT, can help teach students when they have failed to cite sources properly and, perhaps, reduce plagiarism.

It complements the University’s efforts to foster a culture of academic honesty.

The software allows faculty to check students’ papers against sources on the Internet, a growing database of journals, and papers written by other UConn students.

If a student chooses, a paper may be submitted to a global database of student papers, and Safe Assign checks these papers against student papers from other universities as well.

Kim Chambers, director of educational technologies, says Safe Assign can be used in several ways.

A faculty member may tell the entire class that they are working on a Safe Assign assignment.

The papers are then submitted electronically, and automatically checked for proper citations. Or, using a feature called Direct Submit, faculty may check a particular student’s paper to check for improper citations.

Faculty also can allow students to use Safe Assign themselves before submitting work.

“If you’re a faculty member and check the box agreeing to allow students to check their papers first,” says Chambers, “there are going to be significantly fewer instances of students turning in papers where citations were improper, leading toward plagiarism.

“I’m encouraging faculty and students to use this not simply to detect plagiarism,” he adds, “but to teach students the process of scholarship and how to properly cite scholarly work.”