Using Assignment

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This page contains information and suggestions for making the most of Moodle assignments.

Different Assignment types

There are four standard assignment types, but there are several other contributed assignment types which can be downloaded from the modules and plugins database.

- Advanced Uploading of files - students can submit one or several items such as word-processed documents with a note to their teacher. The teacher can comment on and send back the uploaded file.
- Online text - students can type their response directly into Moodle using the Text editor
- Upload a single file - students typically submit one piece of work such as a word-processed document or presentation
- Offline assignment - not a "true" assignment but a place for a teacher to add grades to work done outside of Moodle.

How do students submit their assignments?

With the Upload a single file and Advanced uploading of files assignments, students see a button "upload file" which takes them to the file picker where they locate their file(s)

With the online text assignment, students see a button "edit submission" which takes them to the Text editor where they type their response.

Note: Teachers don't see these buttons even if they switch to student view so do not worry if your assignment doesn't display as you're expecting - if you check it with a real student account, it will work!

Which assignment suits you best?

You want students to type shorter or longer responses directly online

Use the online text assignment It works well for younger children who will only manage a sentence or two and works just as well for higher ed students who write long essays.
- Advantage - quick for the student to get started; no need to use a word-processing program and upload the file.
- Disadvantage - potential worries that if the internet goes down, the work students have typed in and not yet saved might be lost.

You want students to submit work you can download in a specified program

Use the "upload a single file" assignment
- Advantage - better than students emailing work as the whole class's work is collated in one space on your course.
- Disadvantage - assignments must downloaded to be viewed (but they can be downloaded in bulk) and the teacher needs the appropriate program to open them.

You want students to submit files at different times for a project

Use the Advanced uploading of filestype and in the settings, set the maximum number of separate files they can upload.
- Advantage - all project files are in one assignment area for grading so they get a single grade.
- Disadvantage - all project files are in one assignment area for grading -so they can only have a single grade!

You want students to write a response to a video/sound file/image

Use the online text assignment type and use the Moodle media icon to add your video/sound/image file.

You want students to answer a series of questions on a video/sound file/image

Investigate the Quiz module. Assignments are really just for a single question.

You want to view, comment on and send back students' assignments

Use the Advanced Uploading of files type which allows you to download the assignment, add your comments and then re-upload back to the student.
- Advantage: useful for teachers who like using the "tracking changes" options in word-processing programs for example
- Disadvantage: the files have to be downloaded, saved and re-uploaded. They can't be edited online.

You want students to send you a note along with their uploaded work

Use the Advanced Uploading of files type and in the settings, check "Allow notes"

You want to allow students to redraft and decide when to submit the work

Use the Advanced Uploading of files type and in the settings check "Allow send for marking". Students can then control when their draft work is submitted to the teacher.

You want students to keep an ongoing journal or do an iterative assignment

Use the online text assignment or Upload a single file and in the settings check "Allow resubmitting".

Iterative assignments
Advantage: the work remains in one place and is constantly improved, graded (if needed) and improved again.
- Disadvantage: unless the student copies and pastes their original text in the online text assignment every time, there is no record/history of previous attempts (such as with the Wiki) The online text assignment does not replicate the display of a journal or blog where each new entry is additional to the previous ones.

Viewing and grading submitted assignments

When students have submitted their assignments, the teacher clicks the 'View x submitted assignments' link (where 'x' is the number of assignments submitted)at the top right of the assignment:

This takes them to the gradebook where they click "Grade" to view and grade the work:

With the Advanced Uploading of files assignment and Upload a single file assignment you have to download the students' files to view them - see (3) in screenshot below.
A grade can be entered in the dropdown box (2) and feedback can be written in the text box (1)

With the Advanced Uploading of files assignment, you have the option to re-upload their file with your comments from the "response files" button:

With the Online text assignment, if you selected "comment inline" the students' work will appear in the feedback text box for you to write comments/corrections on:

Quick grading assignments

You may prefer to use "quick grading" by checking the box at the bottom of the submissions page. This enables you to quickly grade multiple assignments all on one page, rather than one by one in a new window. Simply add the grades and comments then when you're done, click "Save all my feedback" at the bottom of the page.

Keeping records (archiving, exporting, backing up)

When students unenrol from a Moodle area, their records become invisible through the Gradebook interface. In order to have the information to hand, departments or course teaching teams may need systems in place to keep their own records for the data retention period required in their particular context. There are two separate procedures for exporting student submissions and marks.

To export marks (with or without feedback):

Go to your course area
From its front page Settings block, select Grades; the Grader Report loads.
From the Grader Report Settings block, select Export; a menu displays.
From the menu, if you need easy viewing and running calculations you probably want to select one of the spreadsheet formats; a page of export settings loads
Use the Visible Groups pulldown menu to limit the export to specific groups, as required
In Options, you indicate whether feedback comments are included
In Grade Items To Be Included lists you can, if required, omit particular Activities from the report
When you've finished with the settings, click on Submit; a preview of your export displays
Click on Download to export to the format you chose, and save the file.

To download the original student submissions:

In your course area, click the link to the Assignment whose submissions you want to download.
Click on the link to View [n] Submitted Assignments; its Grader then loads.
Click the link to 'Download All Assignments As A Zip', and save the file.

Tips and Tricks

Want to use an Assignment activity again in another Moodle site? Use the backup and restore options.
Want to use an Assignment activity in another course you teach? Use the Import function in the course administration block.
Moodle will sometimes appear not to be uploading a resubmitted assignment - you seem to be downloading the original assignment. This is a cache issue, in short, go to "Tools > Clear Recent History" in Firefox or "Tools > Delete Browsing History > Delete Temporary Files" in Windows Explorer. The newer file will then appear.

Documentation