Turnitin's Moodle Direct Integration - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I configure the Moodle Direct integration?
Below is an overview of the steps that need to be taken to integration Turnitin with Moodle using the Moodle Direct plug-in:
- Configure the Moodle Direct area in the administrator account via www.submit.ac.uk or www.turnitin.com entering a shared secret key (that you make up), your institutions IP range of 255.255.255.255 and the error call back URL of https://submit.ac.uk/api_error.asp if you are on the submit.ac.uk service or https://turnitin.com/api_error.asp if you are on the turnitin.com service.
- Navigate to the 'Download' link next to step 2 at the top of the page and download the latest version of the plug-in for Moodle Direct
- On the server, place the 'turnitintool' folder in the 'mod/' folder
- Ensure that you have cURL installed – you can check if you have via 'Site Administration >> Server >> Environment'
- Log-in as the Moodle administrator and navigate to notifications
- Navigate to 'Module >> Activities >> Turnitin Assignment' to complete the configuration of the plugin. A video guide on how to do this can be found here
- If you are connecting through a proxy please complete the appropriate fields at the bottom of the configuration page. Including the correct URL, Port and Username and Password if applicable. Please note: that if the credentials entered here are incorrect the calls out to Turnitin will not succeed.
- Click 'Run Connectivity Test' to test connection to Turnitin. If this is successful then you will be able to proceed and create Turnitin assignments.
What are the main differences between Moodle Basic and Moodle Direct?
The Moodle Basic plug-in supports the full Turnitin WriteCycle: Originality Checking, GradeMark, and PeerMark. When this plug-in has been installed users can access Turnitin from within Moodle via a framed in window. This means that all instances where Turnitin is used, the actual Turnitin screen appears within Moodle. With this plug-in, papers submitted to the Turnitin assignment are only stored in Turnitin. The following languages are supported with this plug-in: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Traditional), Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, Thai and Malay.
The Moodle Basic plugin is recommended for customers who would like to use the full WriteCycle or for international customers who would like to use the integration in one of the supported languages other than English. Moodle Direct will have languages other than English implemented before the end of the 2010. Although the Moodle Basic integration incorporates all of the Turnitin WriteCycle functionality, some users may prefer to only work from within the Moodle interface. Customers with such a desire can use the Moodle Direct integration.
The Moodle Direct plugin currently supports Turnitin Originality Checking and GradeMark. By using the Moodle Direct plugin, all Turnitin actions have been incorporated seamlessly into the Moodle workflow. This includes: Turnitin assignment creation, submitting papers to the assignment, and accessing Originality Reports and GradeMark. With this plugin, papers submitted to a Turnitin assignment are stored in both Moodle and Turnitin. This plugin also allows instructor and student users to access submissions in Turnitin via the website.
The Moodle Direct plugin is recommended for customers who would like Turnitin to be incorporated seamlessly into the Moodle workflow and only wish to use Turnitin Originality Checking and GradeMark. Although PeerMark is not currently available in the Moodle Direct plugin, there are plans to include PeerMark in the future.
Can users migrate their data from the Moodle Basic integration?
Migrating data from the Moodle Basic integration to the Moodle Direct integration is not possible. However, users will still have access to their old data as long as they do not uninstall the Moodle Basic plug-in.
Can both Moodle Direct and Moodle Basic integrations exist in the same account?
Yes. Users can run a single Moodle instance with both the Moodle Basic and the Moodle Direct integrations installed.
Do users have to install anything new to use Moodle Direct?
Yes, you will need to install Moodle Direct plug-in. The plug-in can be downloaded from the administrator account via www.submit.ac.uk or www.turnitin.com
Can both plug-ins be installed and be used simultaneously?
Yes, both plug-ins can be run in parallel, although this could be very confusing for both instructors and students, since these are two completely different ways to create assignments and submit papers. In other words, there would be two Turnitin Assignment links in the 'Add an activity' list.
Does Moodle Direct handle due dates correctly?
Yes, the plug-in fully supports due dates and post-dates, incorporating the Moodle GradeBook. Therefore, any grades entered in Turnitin's GradeMark feature will be passed into the Moodle GradeBook on the post date specified in the assignment settings.
Does Moodle Direct work with Moodle Groups?
Not currently, but this is planned for a later date.
I am a student, how do I submit my paper?
Please see the instructional video here for a walkthrough on how to make your submission.
There is also a Student User Guide here and a PDF available to download here.
I am an instructor, how can I make a submission on behalf of a student?
Please see the instructional video here for a walkthrough on how to make a submission as an instructor on behalf of a student.
There is also an Instructor User Guide and a PDF is also available here.
How can I create a Turnitin Assignment via Moodle Direct?
Please see the instructional video here for a walkthrough on how to make a Turnitin Assignment using Moodle Direct.
There is also an Instructor User Guide and a PDF is available here.
Check that that API URL entered in the plug-in configuration via "Modules" >> "Activities" >> "Turnitin Assignment" is correct. For UK users on the 'submit.ac.uk' service the API URL needs to be https://submit.ac.uk/api.asp however the rest of the world users (non-UK) on the turnitin.com service will need to enter https://www.turnitin.com/api.asp
An error occurs (No HTTPS - the URL was not transmitted via HTTPS)
This error occurs when you configure the API Url with the http instead of https for example:
- http://api.turnitin.com/api.asp << INCORRECT
- https://api.turnitin.com/api.asp << CORRECT
An error occurs (Could not write data to file) every time the button 'add submission' is clicked
The error 'Could not write data to file' only occurs when you try to do a copy and paste submission, it occurs because PHP could not create a text file for the submission; this is usually due to directory permissions on the server in the 'moodledata' directory. For a file upload you will likely receive a 'File Upload Error' this will occur for the same reason. To resolve this you will need to add the necessary permissions to allow the web server to create files in the 'moodledata' directory.
Instructions for setting the correct permissions depends on your environment and server set up:
The above links explain how to set up the 'moodledata' directory permissions for a couple of example systems. If you are still unsure about how to do this please check with either your hosting provider / server administrator for more detailed information on how to set the correct permissions on your particular server set up.
Do we need a new plug in for Turnitin2?
You will not need to upgrade your plug-in for your VLE once Turnitin 2.0 is launched. The changes are being made to the features such as the Originality Report and GradeMark. The integration connects TO these features from Moodle.
Users will be defaulted into the new 'Unified Interface' that Turnitin 2.0 will bring once launch, however each user will have the ability to revert to the previous version of the Originality Report and GradeMark up to 12 months after launch.
Further logs to diagnose issue/error
In order to diagnose issues in more detail, turn diagnostic mode 'ON' from the plug-in configuration screen in Moodle (Logs are kept/produced when diagnostic mode is activated). To create logs for diagnostic purposes, reproduce the error then navigate to the logs on the server. The location should be '/moodledata/temp/turnitintool/logs/....' the comms and activity logs produced should be tagged with the date so you can identify which file the error would be shown in.
