SafeAssign is an instructional tool that is built into UBlearns (Blackboard Learn) that can check a student’s submitted assignment for originality. The Originality Report is designed to aid instruction on two fronts:

First: Plagiarism Prevention
Like most instructional tools, SafeAssign is not an automatic fix and cannot replace the instructor in terms of determining plagiarism. That being said, SafeAssign provides the instructor with an Originality Report upon submission of an assignment that can aid an instructor in the identification of questionable content. A firm understanding of what information is found on the Originality Report is important when assessing the overall assignment.

Second: Student Learning Opportunities
As we all know, not every instance of suspected plagiarism is intentional. Often times plagiarism can be the result of the student improperly attributing sources or failing to recognize when it is appropriate to attribute sources versus paraphrasing. By allowing students to view the SafeAssign Originality Report (which is an option in Blackboard but not a requirement), you are creating an instructional opportunity for a student to identify potential problem areas, recognize their own mistakes, and make corrections to gain a better understanding of the entire process. After all, the goal isn’t just to have a student attribute their sources, but also to gain an understanding of when and why it is required to do so.

How can I set up an assignment using SafeAssign?
SafeAssign is integrated into UBlearns (Blackboard Learn) which means there are support and instructional resources already available to you that have been created by both Blackboard and UBIT. To get started, view directions on how to create a SafeAssignment and view submissions on the UBIT SafeAssign web page or watch this brief video (4:23) provided by Blackboard:

For more detailed information about using SafeAssign and reading the Originality Reports view/save/print the SafeAssign Instructor Guide today.