SafeAssign is a feature within the Blackboard Learning System that processes written assignments specifically for proper use of citation and referencing. The feature assists faculty and instructors in detecting referencing problems that arise from improper citation and also flag unoriginal content submitted by students.
Benefits for the instructor:
- Checks citation and reference automatically without having the instructor search the web manually.
- Provides a report in an easy to read visual format that highlights areas of possible concern for improper citation or unoriginal work.
- Creates an electronic assignment submission drop box area within one’s Blackboard course site.
- Sets up automatically within Blackboard a Grade Center column area for convenient entering of grades.
Benefits for the student:
- Allows for students to have access to the reports for transparency, allowing them to review their own use of citation and referencing.
- Provides for the students a documented report to use in reflecting upon their research and writing.
- Strengthens the student academic writing process.
- Creates a learning experience about what it means to be part of a larger academic community and fosters originality of student work.
SafeAssignments work within a Blackboard course site as a drop box area where students can submit their papers. Once a written document is submitted (for example a Word doc or Open Office file) it is checked against:
- Documents available on the Internet,
- ProQuest ABI/Inform database,
- Institutional documents that have been previously uploaded into SafeAssign, and a
- Global reference database that contains all the papers uploaded by students from other Blackboard client institutions (for more information see: How Does SafeAssign Work [link for “How Does a SafeAssign work”: http://wiki.safeassign.com/display/SAFE/How+Does+SafeAssign+Work])
For more information about setting up a SafeAssignment in your course site see:
SafeAssignment – plagarism detection
Interpreting a SafeAssign report:
Safe Assign Part 4: Interpreting a Safe Assignment (Bb 9.1)
