New Turnitin evaluation rubric allows students to check reliability of online research sources

New Turnitin evaluation rubric allows students to check reliability of online research sources                     

http://edtechtimes.com/2013/01/29/new-turnitin-evaluation-rubric-allows-students-to-check-reliability-of-online-research-sources/

“In response to recent studies revealing students over-reliance in Internet-based sources with questionable academic value, cloud-based originality checking and online grading tool Turnitin has launched a website evaluation rubric to teach students how to analyze and grade the academic quality of the Internet sourdes used in their writing.

Turnitin worked closely with educators to design The Source Educational Evaluation Rubric (SEER), which is built on five criteria: Authority, Educational Value, Intent, Originality, and Quality. SEER was field tested by secondary and higher education instructors who evaluated over 300 of the most popular sources used by students.

“SEER is a tool I can use to open the discussion with students about evaluating sources and to stress the importance of using quality sources in academic writing,” said Danielle Harris, teacher at Champlin Park High School and a SEER field tester. “I think SEER is a brilliant idea that will help students become better writers.”

In addition to these tools, Turnitin is sponsoring two free webcasts focusing on improving student research techniques that will introduce and review SEER with educators:

“What’s Wrong with Wikipedia? Evaluating the Sources Used by Students” will present the evolution of SEER and recommendations for putting the rubric into practice. Registrants will receive access to an interactive PDF of SEER to use as an instructional tool with students. Register at: http://pages.turnitin.com/WC_013113_register.html “Grading the Top 100 Student Sources” will apply the SEER model to the most popular sources that secondary and higher education students use and provide suggestions on how to better guide students in conducting appropriate research online. Register at: http://pages.turnitin.com/WC_020713_register.html

“Student reliance on ‘Googling’ has clearly replaced the more rigorous and traditional approaches to research,” said Jason Chu, senior education manager at Turnitin. “Our intent in developing the SEER tool – and related materials – is to help educators enhance student information literacy skills for future academic, professional and career success.”

Check out Turnitin here.”

Stephen