SafeAssign
From FerrisConnect KnowledgeBase
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What is SafeAssign?
SafeAssign is a plagiarism prevention tool which is integrated with the FerrisConnect course management system. Students may submit written assignments within their FerrisConnect course using the SafeAssign tool and SafeAssign automatically compares the document with documents across the Internet, including Webpages, electronic reference databases, as well as institutional and global SafeAssign databases. An originality report is generated which will provide information about any matching source material and its location.
How does an instructor use SafeAssign?
Instructors add the SafeAssign tool to a content page or folder within their FerrisConnect course. Once the tool is added the instructor may create assignments. As the assignments are created columns are automatically added to the course.
Adding SafeAssign to the Course Homepage or Folder
- Select "Course Content" within the Build tab.
- Click on the "Add Content Link" button.
- Select "SafeAssign".
- Click on the "Create SafeAssign" button. Image
- Provide a title for the tool
(this is the SafeAssign tool itself, not an assignment - you will add assignments in the following process) - Click on the "Configure!" button.
The above process is the also used when adding the tool to a folder other than the homepage.
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Adding SafeAssign to a Learning Module
The SafeAssign tool may alternately be added to a learning module, creating a link to the SafeAssign tool. However, it does not create a link to a specific assignment - only to the tool itself. All SafeAssignments will be listed under the link.
- Select Learning Modules within the Build tab.
- Click on an existing Learning Module or create a new one.
- Click on the "Add Content Link" button.
- Select "SafeAssign".
- Click on the "Create SafeAssign" button.
- Provide a title for the tool
(this is the SafeAssign tool itself, not an assignment - you will add assignments in the following process) - Click on the "Configure!" button.
Creating Assignments
To create an assignment in SafeAssign go to the content page and select the tool link within the Teach tab.
- Click on the "Create SafeAssignment" button.
- Provide a title and description of the assignment.
- Enter an assignment due date.
- You may choose to allow students to upload a draft of their assignment and have it checked for originality against the SafeAssign database.
- You may choose whether a student may view their own originality report.
- The "Urgent Checking" option runs a priority check on the assignment.
- Grading options allow for either a numeric or letter grade.
- Save assignment configuration.
Sample Create SafeAssignments form
A column is automatically created in the course grade book for each assignment.
DirectSubmit
The DirectSubmit function within SafeAssign permits the instructor to submit assignments for checking for originality. Text may be copied and pasted into a textbox, or entire documents may be submitted at one time.
As with the SafeAssignment feature, DirectSubmit can be added within the Build tab using the "Add Content Link" button.
- Click the "Add Content Link" button.
- Select DirectSubmit from the menu.
- Click the Create DirectSubmit button.
- Enter a title for the new content link (e.g. "Submit Assignments").
- Click the "Add Selected" button.
Using the DirectSubmit feature will not create columns in the grade book.
Submitting Documents with DirectSubmit
From within the Teach tab, click on the DirectSubmit tool link created in the previous section.
There is the option of submitting documents or text in either Private or Shared mode. The private option allows the instructor to submit documents to SafeAssign, the results for which are only available to the instructor. The originality reports for documents submitted through the public tab can be viewed by everyone in the class.
Folders may be created in both the private and public tabs allowing the instructor to manage documents for various assignments.
SafeAssign Originality Report
Once a document or assignment has been submitted the text is checked by SafeAssign against documents on the Web as well as several commercial databases including BlackBoard's SafeAssign database. After a few minutes a report is generated revealing any matches found.
The report shows all sources and to what degree the text matches. Sources may be removed from the report and the process repeated. A sources comparison window is provided to visually compare text line-by-line.
Resources
Instructor Manual (pdf)
