How to Use PeerMark on Turnitin 

WordPress User [dab166] E-submission, Feedback, Marking, Turnitin Leave a comment

In this blogpost, we want to draw your attention to one of the lesser-known features of Turnitin: it’s peer assessment functionality. Peer assessment helps students take greater ownership of their learning by encouraging reflection, shared responsibility, and active participation in a supportive learning community. It also develops valuable communication, collaboration, and feedback skills, while providing timely feedback that can improve academic performance and employability. This blogpost will show how you can use Turnitin’s PeerMark functionality to achieve some of these outcomes in your assessments.  

  1. Create a Turnitin Assignment and enable PeerMark 

To create a Turnitin Assignment, follow the usual steps on Blackboard by clicking the purple plus sign to create context, then select ‘Additional Tools’ before choosing the option for Turnitin. When configuring the settings for the Turnitin Assignment, remember to tick the Enable PeerMark box before submitting.  

  1. Go back into Turnitin Assignment to set up PeerMark Settings 

After the Turnitin Assignment has been set up, go back to this assignment on the Blackboard course page and click on the assignment to begin setting up the PeerMark settings. The settings for the PeerMark can be changed by clicking on the PeerMark Setup option under the PeerMark Tab. 

After clicking on this option, you will be presented with three separate tabs relating to the PeerMark setup. More information about these tabs is noted below. 

a. PeerMark Assignment Settings 

The PeerMark Assignment settings will allow you to select the start, end and feedback release date for the assignment. The maximum points available for the peer marking, the title given for the assignment and any further instructions for the students can also be entered here. This page looks very similar to the usual Turnitin setup. However, it is worth keeping in mind that these are the settings for Peer marking, rather than the overall assignment settings. 

b. PeerMark Question Settings 

The PeerMark questions tab allows instructors to support and guide the peer marking process through questions and scoring. 

To manually add questions for peer marking, select and add questions to create a new question. 
 

This then prompts you to type your question in the question field. After this, you will be prompted to select the question type from the drop-down menu. 

There are two options available for question types. The first of these is a Free response. With a free response, students receive an open text field to record their responses. For this type of question, you must also provide a minimum answer length (in words). 
 

The second type of question that can be selected is a scale response. Scale responses mean that students receive a sliding scale with which to rate the question. For this type of question, you must also provide a scale size and the names for the lowest and highest values. 
 

After you have created your questions, you can select Save to add the question to the PeerMark assignment. There is also the option to add these questions to the PeerMark library for future reuse. Once the PeerMark assignment has been submitted, it can no longer be edited. There are no late submissions allowed with PeerMark. 

Editing, deleting, and reordering PeerMark questions 


After you initially set up the PeerMark questions, there are options to edit, delete and reorder questions. To edit a question, select the blue pencil button in the same row. To delete a question, select the red rubbish can icon in the same row. To reorder a question, the first step is to select the reorder questions button from the top. Secondly, you have the option to select and drag to reorder PeerMark questions. Finally, click the save order button to save the new order. 
 

c. Distribution Settings 

The distributions will allow you to see a list of students enrolled for the assignment. The blue ‘+’ sign and the white ‘-‘ sign will allow instructors to manually assign students to one another for peer marking. If this option is not chosen, Turnitin will automatically and randomly assign students to one another. The information to the right of the student’s names will allow you to see whether the students has been assigned a peer marking partner manually or automatically. 

  1. Students submit to Turnitin submission point 

Once the settings have been configured, students will be able to submit to the Turnitin submission point as usual. To do this, students should access the Turnitin submission point from the Blackboard course page. Like other assignments, the submission will then be submitted by selecting upload submission, then choosing a file for upload from your documents before submitting the assignment. 

  1. After PeerMark start date, students are able to view another student’s assignment and leave feedback / scores to questions 

Once work has been submitted and the PeerMark start date has passed, students will then be able to view another student’s assignment and leave feedback and scores to questions.   

To do this, students should access the Turnitin submission point from the Blackboard page. When they open the submission point, there should be a PeerMark Reviews tab alongside the Assignment Dashboard. Click on that tab to begin the PeerMark review process.  

Clicking on Start Peer Review should open up the assignment that has been assigned to the student for reviewing. Once the assignment is open, you will be able to peer mark by providing answers to the preprepared questions set by the instructor and leaving comments on the page by double clicking on the text. Under the tools tab there are also more options to annotate on the assignment, by adding or highlighting text, for example. 

  1. PeerMark feedback is visible to students immediately 

PeerMark feedback is visible to students as long as feedback has been submitted for them. To view the feedback, students should navigate back to the Turnitin submission point and click on PeerMark Reviews under the drop-down options of the PeerMark.  

After clicking on this tab, you will be able to see the peer mark reviews by clicking on view received reviews. 

Clicking the review that you want to access from the list will reopen the assignment and should include the feedback from the peer reviewer. 

  1. Lecturer needs to allocate a final mark manually 

Taking into account the PeerMark feedback and scores to questions, the lecturer will then need to enter marks manually in each Turnitin Assignment. This will be done in the usual method by accessing the students’ submissions in the assignment inbox and adding a grade on the top of the Turnitin marking studio. 

Our most frequently asked questions from September 2026

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  • How do I merge Blackboard modules?
  • How are staff and students enrolled onto Blackboard modules?
  • Where can I find the AI Essentials content? 
  • How do I link Panopto recordings to Blackboard?

Guidance on merging modules in Blackboard

How do I merge modules?

You can merge modules using the Blackboard Ultra Module Partner tool accessible through myadmin.aber.ac.uk. -> Blackboard Ultra Module Partner.

The Blackboard Ultra Module Partner tool allows you to share the same content across multiple modules by assigning one module as the Primary module and linking one or more modules as a Secondary module.

There is no limit to the number of secondary modules that can be linked, but there can only be one primary module.

Merging modules automatically makes content from the primary module available in all linked secondary modules. This means that you won’t need to upload the same materials to multiple modules. Alternatively, you can email elearning@aber.ac.uk.

An in-depth guide for the Blackboard partner tool can be found by following the link below which will take you to our FAQs:

How do I merge modules in Blackboard (staff)?

Why merge modules?

Merging modules allows module coordinators to link the same content between two or more modules in Blackboard. This is useful for modules that share the same materials, some examples where this could be useful include:

  • Taught modules that are available for both 2nd and 3rd year cohorts
  • Modules that use the same content across different degree schemes
  • Modules that use identical learning materials and reading lists

How do I unmerge modules?

Modules can be unmerged by clicking the pencil icon in the Primary Course ID section and then Click Delete -> Delete

When modules are unlinked, previous submissions, marks etc are retained for students on the module. They will be hidden from staff (to avoid confusion), but if you need to view them contact elearning@aber.ac.uk for advice

What to consider?

  • All content can be viewed as soon as the modules are merged (if students are enrolled on the module). In addition to PowerPoints and lecture materials, this also includes Announcements and other interactive tools on your primary module.
  • Historical student interactions on a secondary module (such as using blogs or discussion board posts) won’t be available once the modules have been merged.
  • Any submission points created on a secondary module before the merge takes place will no longer be able to be viewed. We would advise creating these again in the primary module.

How do I make module content visible to specific cohorts? 

All content is automatically visible once modules are merged. Groups and adaptive release can be used if you only want the content to be visible to a specific module cohort.

This may be useful if you have merged a 2nd year and 3rd year module but your students on the different modules have separate assignments. You can use one group for 2nd year students and one for 3rd year students. You can also limit who can see the assignment information and submission point.

See official guidance from the Blackboard help centre on Creating Groups and Release Conditions.   

How does merging affect the Gradebook?

After merging, all students will be visible within the primary module’s gradebook. You can, however, view the primary and secondary modules gradebooks separately using the Merged Modules filter found within the primary module’s gradebook.

If you’d like further information on merging modules or have any questions, please email us at elearning@aber.ac.uk.

How are staff and students enrolled onto Blackboard modules?

Overview Enrolment

  • Staff enrolments onto Blackboard modules can by managed through the Module Management System or by emailing elearning@aber.ac.uk.
  • Students will be automatically enrolled onto their Blackboard modules via AStRA once they have completed registration and any outstanding enrolment tasks. Students should be directed their  Student Record to check

Module Management System

  • The Module Management System can be used to enrol staff and departmental admins
  • The staff section can be found by searching staff

The staff section will show you what staff have access to and what they have updated

Individual staff can be added too:

  • A module
  • All modules in the department
  • All modules in a faculty
  • All modules at the institution 

The role with the highest level of permission will take priority for, example instructor over grader

How do staff roles appear in the Module Management System and Blackboard?

Module ManagementBlackboard
LecturerInstructor
TutorInstructor
AssistantTeaching Assistant
GraderGrader
BuilderCourse Builder
Departmental AdministratorFacilitator
Subject LibrarianCourse Builder
Course ViewerViewer
External ExaminerFacilitator

See official guidance from the Blackboard help centre on permissions for each role.

Removing staff and students from courses

  • Students can change or withdraw from courses using their student record, if this happens the student will be automatically removed from their current Blackboard course on a Monday night.
  • Staff who are removed using the Module management system will also be automatically removed from modules on a Monday night (23.59)
  • Modules will still be visible to both staff and students before Monday night (23.59). This means that if a staff member or student is removed on a Tuesday their modules will still be visible.

I can’t see my course in Blackboard?

  • (Students) Check your Student Record for missing tasks and outstanding registration then contact your department.
  • (Staff) Contact the registry staff in your department

Feel free to also contact elearning@aber.ac.uk.

What to consider?

  • Staff should only be enrolled using the Module Management System.
  • Technical issues are likely if staff and students are enrolled via the class register in Blackboard.
  • It may take up to an hour for changes to appear in Blackboard

If changes have not appeared after one hour, please contact  elearning@aber.ac.uk.

 

Where can I find the AI Essentials content in Blackboard?

 

· The AI essentials content can be found in the Organisation section of Blackboard:

·  From here you can use the search feature to search for

BB-SD26-0011:

How do I Link Panopto Recordings to Blackboard?

You can create a link to the Panopto folder in your Blackboard course. This means that students will be able to see the recordings for the course all in one place.  

Finding your Panopto folder  

Panopto folders for all 2026-27 modules can be found within the 2026-27 folder.  

To find the Panopto folder you want to record into:

  • Click the dropdown button on the right-hand side of the Folder box.
  • Click the dropdown arrow to the left of the academic year folder to expand it.
  • Select the Panopto folder you want to record into. 

You can also search for the Panopto folder you want to record into:

  • In the Folder box start typing the module code or name of the Panopto folder you want to record into.
  • Select the folder you want to record into. 

What to do if you can’t see your Panopto folder 

In a small number of courses, the Panopto folder wasn’t created over the summer. If you can’t find your Panopto folder using the steps above, you can create a folder from Blackboard:

  1. Login to Blackboard and find your course
  2. Click on Books and Tools [Llyfrau ac Offer] > View course and institution tools [Gweld cwrs ac offer sefydliad] 
  3. Click on Holl Fideo Panopto / All Panopto Videos 

You should then be able to find the Panopto folder to make a recording.

If you have any questions, please contact the Digital Education Team on elearning@aber.ac.uk. 

Turnitin Statement

WordPress User [jbw] E-submission, Technical Updates, Turnitin, Uncategorised Leave a comment

Further to our previous blogpost, Turnitin has now released a statement to address the concerns that staff and students have over the proposed user license agreement changes:

In response to concerns raised by UK universities and colleges, which have been channelled through UCISA, Turnitin postponed the issue of a new End-User Licence Agreement (EULA) until September 2027.

Turnitin have also committed to redrafting the EULA and will work in partnership with UCISA who represent educational institutions across the UK to address any concerns and clarify key questions.

Turnitin has confirmed that no student or staff data has been used to develop any generative artificial intelligence (AI) models or large language models (LLM), and that they have no plans to use student essays in this way.

Turnitin recognise the growing concerns around data privacy and AI. They are therefore fully committed to the collective work that they are engaged with through the UCISA representation group and their institutional members.

This working partnership demonstrates Turnitin’s commitment to protecting student and staff data.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, you are welcome to contact the Digital Education Team on elearning@aber.ac.uk.

What’s new in Blackboard September 2026 

WordPress User [dab166] Blackboard, Monthly Update Leave a comment

In the September update, we want to draw your attention to the following Blackboard enhancements:  

  1. New Content Editor for Blackboard Documents 
  1. Restrict accepted file types for assignment submissions 
  1. Updated Blackboard Gradebook 

Note: The September update was delayed by Blackboard to allow more time for testing. 

New Content Editor for Blackboard Documents 

Blackboard has introduced a new content editor for Documents, giving staff a more modern and streamlined way to create content. The new editor offers a simpler editing experience, improved formatting tools and better accessibility. The key features are: 

  • Simplified menus and a cleaner toolbar make editing easier. 
  • Enhanced list and table formatting provides greater flexibility. 
  • Improved keyboard navigation and accessibility features support a wider range of users. 

The editor remains in beta stage until November and will continue receiving updates until then. 

Instructors 

Staff can currently choose between the new and classic editor. The classic editor will remain available until December. 

Image 1: The new Content Editor appears alongside the classic editor when adding Document blocks. 

Image 2: The new Content Editor has a redesigned toolbar and menu structure. 

A Content Editor Comparison Table is available if you would like to see the differences between the two editors side by side. 

Since the new editor became available for institutions to switch-on in August, Blackboard has already released several usability, accessibility, and functionality improvements based on feedback from early adopters. These can be seen below:  

Paragraph indentation 

New indentation controls allow first-line or full-paragraph indentation directly within the editor, providing greater formatting flexibility. 

Image 1: Instructors select Increase indent or Decrease indent. 

Responsive toolbar 

The toolbar now stays on a single row regardless of screen size. Less-used buttons are hidden on smaller screens, but all tools remain available through the menus. 

Image 2: On small screens, less frequently used toolbar buttons are hidden. 

Keyboard shortcuts and navigation 

The Edit and Insert menus now display more keyboard shortcuts next to common actions, making them easier to discover for keyboard users and anyone learning the editor.  

Image 3: The Edit menu displays keyboard shortcuts next to actions. 

A new Keyboard Shortcuts button, located at the end of the toolbar, opens a centralised reference covering navigation between the Menu Bar, Toolbar, Inline Toolbar, and editor, as well as keyboard-based image resizing 

Image 4: A list of keyboard shortcuts appears when the keyboard shortcuts button on the toolbar is selected. 

Together, these updates make the editor’s full functionality easier to discover and use without a mouse. 

Toolbar tooltips 

Tooltips now appear below toolbar buttons, preventing them from obscuring menu options. 

Image 5: The tooltip appears below the button. 

Refreshed look and feel 

The editor has also received a visual refresh, bringing it more in line with Blackboard’s wider design style. 

Image from URL 

Images added from a web address are now copied into the course rather than linked externally. This ensures images remain available even if the original source changes or is removed. 

Restrict accepted file types for assignment submissions 

Instructors can now specify which file types they will accept for file submissions on assignments. Students are informed of any restrictions before submitting and receive a warning message if they attempt to upload a file type that is not permitted. 

Instructors 

When configuring an assignment with file submission enabled, instructors can restrict accepted file types in two ways: 

  • Select from a list of common permitted file types, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and ZIP formats. 
  • Enter custom file extensions manually. For the moment, to restrict according to PDF you will need to type in .pdf in the filter or add a custom extension box. 

Instructors can modify file type restrictions after students have started submitting. Existing submissions remain gradable, and students with drafts in progress can still submit. 

Image 1: In the Permitted file types dropdown list, instructors can specify one or more file types allowed. 

Students 

The expected file types for an assignment are displayed in the Details & Actions section before submission. If a student attempts to upload a file type that is not permitted, a warning message should inform them that the file type is not accepted. 

Updated Blackboard Gradebook 

In the August update, we drew your attention to the restructured Gradebook grid view that has been rolled out by Blackboard. This is a reminder to take a look at our separate Update to Blackboard Gradebook August 2026 blogpost so that you can familiarise yourself with this new layout. 

Royal Literary Fund Fellow – Learning Object Repository item

WordPress User [kaw] Blackboard Leave a comment

Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch, our Royal Literary Fund fellow returns to Aberystwyth from 7th October.

Samanatha offers a free, confidential service to help improve students’ writing skills.

You can help advertise the service to your students – link to the RLF Learning Object Repository item in Blackboard course sites

  • English item: Improve your academic writing  
  • Bilingual item: Cyfle i wella’ch ysgrifennu academaidd / Improve your academic writing 
  • Welsh item: Cyfle i wella’ch ysgrifennu academaidd

And don’t forget that staff are also welcome to book an appointment with Samanatha.

The information in the Learning Object is:

Improve your academic writing this year with RLF Fellow Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch. To make an appointment please email for a booking link: samantha.wynne-rhydderch@rlfeducation.org.uk

Students at Aberystwyth University at any level of study (from 1st year to postgraduate) – and staff – are welcome to book a session.

The Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellows are professional, published authors whose role is to help you strengthen your writing. In one-to-one sessions, Samantha can help you with:

  • Structuring your argument
  • Writing clearer and more compelling prose
  • Rewriting and editing
  • Planning and time management
  • Tackling the word count
  • Critical thinking
  • Paraphrasing
Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch

Samantha works Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time. Sessions last 50 minutes and take place in the Hugh Owen Library on Wednesdays and in the Llandinam Building on Thursdays.

Please note that RLF Writing Fellows do not undertake proofreading, or EAP or TEFL tuition.

Note: Samantha’s sessions are in English. To speak with a Welsh medium academic writing skills tutor who offers 1:1 academic support to students, please contact Dr Tamsin Davies, ted@aber.ac.uk

Welcome, Luke Butler – Digital Education Officer

WordPress User [lub79] Uncategorised Leave a comment

Hello!  My name is Luke and I have recently joined the Digital Education Team as a Digital Education Officer. I’m excited to assist staff and students with digital education queries, ensure that information is clear, and contribute to the wider team!

A little bit of my background- I came to Aberystwyth in 2022 to peruse a BA in Filmmaking at the university, where I specialised in practical and theoretical skills in cinematography and editing with a focus on creating period pieces. I have always been interested in the work and effort that goes into bringing film and television to life. My end of year project was a film set in the 1960s and focused on the ‘battle of the bands’ between a record label who lost their number one spot to a newly famous band! I also have a background in graphic design.

I have recently completed a masters in Behavioural Science here at Aberystwyth University where many of my projects focused on developing interventions for positive health-related behaviours and improving engagement within police, leisure and teaching settings. My master’s dissertation focused on current interest and attitudes toward emerging novel contraceptive health methods designed for men, which involved working with potential users to investigate which behaviour change informed messages where most appropriate for future advertisements and interventions to support shared responsibility.

Before my role within the Digital Education Team, I worked as a lifeguard and swimming teacher for 8 years at the sports centre here at Aberystwyth University and a leisure centre where I grew up. I taught children from the age of three to sixteen as well as adults and volunteered as an assistant coach competitive swimming club. This was a club that I was part of from the age of 6 and later re-joined as a master’s swimmer.

I have a keen interest in swimming and have more recently moved to open water swimming with hopes to enter some open water swimming races and hopefully have a go at a triathlon soon! Outside of work I enjoy motorsport and nature photography, finding nice walks and hikes with my partner, camping, and anything to do with the outdoors.  

A big thank you to everyone I have met so far for the warm welcome! I’m looking forward to meeting and working with members of staff and students across the coming months.

Turnitin and User License Agreement – an update

WordPress User [jbw] E-submission, Turnitin Leave a comment

The Digital Education Team is providing an update on Turnitin and User License Agreements.

You may have heard about concerns regarding Turnitin user license agreements and Generative AI.

When you log in to use Turnitin, staff and students need to accept the terms of agreement to use the platform.

Over the summer, we received a notification from Turnitin that they were updating its license agreement, with the intention that this will be applied to all users (staff and students).

As part of this license agreement, it was proposed that student submissions and staff feedback would be used to train large language models.

We, along with the rest of the sector, had concerns over this. We were unhappy with how Turnitin planned to introduce this update, without warning, and over the security of student work and staff feedback.

Working alongside UCISA, the professional membership body for digital, IT, and information systems in UK higher education, and other universities, we lobbied against this change.

Following this, Turnitin did not introduce the updated license agreement.

You might have seen that other universities are starting to move away from Turnitin. For the year ahead, we are continuing to use Turnitin.

In terms of our own license, we renew on an annual basis, and we are contracted up until July 2027. 

We ran a pilot a couple of years ago to look at the feasibility of moving away from Turnitin, but at that point the tools in Blackboard didn’t meet all our requirements. We do keep a close eye on both text-matching and submission tools in Blackboard to see whether they offer a viable alternative to Turnitin.

We meet our Turnitin Customer Account Manager regularly throughout the year, and we’re able to feedback our concerns and issues. We were in touch with them about the proposed changes to the licence agreement. We also work with sector bodies who lobby and advocate with software vendors on behalf HE institutions.

If you’d prefer not to use Turnitin, Blackboard Assignment has submission and marking tools which you can use – all the guidance is available on our web pages, and we’d be happy to work with anyone who would like to switch to using it. It does offer a number of benefits that Turnitin doesn’t have – for example, multi-part submissions and group assignments. However, there are some limitations – the biggest 2 are that marks aren’t released automatically on a ‘Post Date’ and it’s not possible to submit work on behalf of students.

If you have any concerns about this update, you are welcome to contact the Digital Education Team on elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Welsh-English Module Partners

WordPress User [kaw] Blackboard Leave a comment

Do you teach a course in Welsh that’s been merged with its English equivalent? Or maybe you’re the coordinator of an English module that has been merged with its Welsh partner?

This year’s Blackboard Required Minimum Presence encourages staff to use the bilingual Welsh template for merged Welsh / English courses.

To make this easy, we have a template course that you can use to copy the bilingual template items into your course. If you’d like to be added, email us on elearning@aber.ac.uk. Information about how to copy content is in our FAQ How do I copy material in from one Blackboard module to another?

You could also include bilingual elements using the Learning Object Repository – here’s a list of the items that are available in the Learning Object Repository.

Gwybodaeth am y Modiwl / Module Information

  • Cipio Darlithoedd (Panopto) / Lecture Capture (Panopto)
  • SgiliauAber
  • AberSkills

Asesu ac Adborth / Assessment and Feedback

  • Canllawiau Cyflwyno / Submission Guidance

Information about using the Learning Object Repository is in our FAQ How do I add an item from Blackboard’s Learning Object Repository to my course?

Guidance on Panopto pausing

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Policies and Information

Staff should be aware that Panopto keeps recording even when you click Pause. Students cannot access what is recorded during a paused section, but other instructors on the course and system administrators can.

Mute your microphone if you do not want anything you say during a pause to be recorded. Please remember to un-mute it before continuing your lecture.

Also, when you edit and delete part of a Panopto recording, that part is hidden from students rather than permanently deleted.,

If you need to permanently remove part of a recording, use the Save As option (see Panopto’s How to use Save As guide – only available in English).

Continuing to record during pauses can be helpful if you forget to restart the recording, as you can make that content available to students later by editing the recording.