How to Check Plagiarism in Google Classroom?

Plagiarism, the bane of every educator's existence, has found new avenues of manifestation in the digital age.

With the widespread use of online resources, it has become increasingly crucial to ensure academic integrity, even within platforms like Google Classroom. But fear not!

This guide will provide you with information on how to check plagiarism in Google Classroom and give you the tools and techniques to address this academic issue.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism, simply put, is the act of using someone else's work without proper attribution or consent, passing it off as one's own.

It can encompass various forms, including copying verbatim, paraphrasing without citation, or even replicating ideas without acknowledgment.

Essentially, it's the antithesis of originality and intellectual honesty, posing a significant threat to academic integrity.

Why is It Important to Check for Plagiarism in Google Classroom?

The digital landscape has revolutionised the way students access information and complete assignments.

While this accessibility is undeniably beneficial, it also opens the floodgates to potential plagiarism. Hence, checking for plagiarism in Google Classroom is paramount for several reasons:

• Maintaining Academic Integrity: Upholding the integrity of academic work ensures that students receive fair evaluation and recognition for their efforts.
• Promoting Originality: By discouraging plagiarism, educators foster a culture of creativity and critical thinking among students.
• Preventing Unethical Behavior: Addressing plagiarism early on instills ethical principles and prepares students for responsible academic and professional conduct.

How to Check Plagiarism in Google Classroom?

Now that we understand the significance of plagiarism detection, let's explore the various methods to tackle it within the realm of Google Classroom.

Use Google's Built-in Tools

Google Classroom offers a feature called originality reports that allows you to check for plagiarism in your students’ work.

Originality reports compare the submitted files (say, Google Docs, Slides, or MS Word files) against webpages, books, and previous student submissions from your school or district.

You can turn on originality reports when you create an assignment or after you receive student work. To use originality reports, follow these steps:

• On a computer, go to classroom.google.com.
• Click the class > Classroom.
• Click Create > Assignment.
• Check the Check plagiarism (originality) box.
• When students turn in their work, you can view the originality report by clicking on the flagged passages on the right.
• You can also see the web matches and the sources that are linked to the flagged text.

Originality reports can help you and your students assess the authenticity of the work and properly cite the external sources.

You can also enable students to run their own originality reports up to three times before submitting their work. Originality reports support multiple languages and file types.

This blog is originally published on Bytescare Blog.