Assignments Tool

1. 1. Select assignments in the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the New Folder button.
   3. Enter a title for the folder in the "Name" field.
   4. By default, the "Grade out of" field is ungraded. To change this, select Ungraded.
   5. Enter in a point value.
   6. Select In Gradebook and choose from the following options using the dropdown menu that opens
      • Edit or Link to Existing: Link the assignment to an existing or new item in Grades.If the grade item was not created, select the option Create and link to a new grade item. Choose the type of grade item to create and the grade scheme to use. If using categories, select a category. When finished select OK.  If the grade item was already created, select the option to Link to an existing grade item. Choose the item from the dropdown list and select OK.
      • Not in Gradebook: Attach a score to the assignment that will not be included in Grades.
      • Reset to Ungraded: Resets the score to the default setting of "Ungraded."
   7. Only a name for the folder is required, but there are other options to modify the assignment folder:
      • Due Date: Set a date for the assignment to show up in the course calendar.
      • Instructions: Enter any steps for the assignment to be submitted.
      • Add Files: Use the icons in the tool bar to add any files, links, video, or audio to the folder. Hover over the icons to see the function. 
      • Availability Dates & Conditions: Select this tab to restrict access to the folder by adding a Start Date and/or End Date.
      • Submission & Completion: Select this tab to set up a group assignment, change the assignment type, alter the number of assignments each student can turn in, or set up email notifications for assignments from specific students. See Setting up a Group assignment for instructions on group assignments folders.
   8. Evaluation & Feedback: Select this tab to attach a rubric, add learning objectives, or add Turnitin. See Rubrics in D2L and Using Originality Checking for more information.

Set Start, End, and Due dates on a assignment folder to control access to assignment folders.

• • A start date indicates when the assignment is released to students. Prior to the start date, students will be able to see the assignment folder, but they will not be able to access it.
  • A due date is the instructor-given date (and time) deadline for submitting an assignment. However, a student may submit after the due date (up until an end date, if one is set), in which case it is marked late, in red, in both the instructor and the student view.
  • An end date is more restrictive. It cuts off the assignment folder at the end date and time set, so students can no longer submit work after that date.

If a due date and end date are both set, then the assignment can be submitted late, after the due date, until the end date is reached.

Set dates on assignments

1. 1. Select the dropdown arrow next to the assignment folder. 
   2. Select Edit Folder. 
   3. The "Edit Folder" page will open. Select the Availability Dates & Conditions tab. 
   4. The tab will open showing fields for a Start Date and End Date. Select the field to enter a date:
      • Start Date: A start date prevents access to the folder before the specified date and time.
      • End Date: An end date will prohibit assignments after the specified date and time.
   5. Use the calendar to select the date.
   6. Once the date is selected, it will appear next to a time. The default time is 11:59 PM, but any time can be entered by selecting the field.
   7. Once complete, select Save and Close.

Hide assignment folders

1. 1. Select the dropdown arrow next to the Assignment folder. 
   2. Select Hide From Users

Make assignment folders visible

1. 1. Select the dropdown arrow next to the Assignment folder. 
   2. Select Make Visible to Users

Grade files submitted to Assignment Dropbox

1. 1. Select Assignment Dropbox on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the name of the assignment folder.
   3. Select the name of the file the student submitted.
   4. Enter a numeric value in the "Score" field. (See Grade Files with a Rubric if a rubric is attached to the folder.)
   5. Type or paste qualitative comments in the "Overall Feedback" field.
   6. (Optional) Use the icons in the tool bar to add any files, links, video, or audio to the folder. Hover over the icons to see the function. 
   7. Save feedback.
   8. Select Save Draft to hide feedback from students, or select Publish to make the feedback available to students.
   9. Select the arrow to navigate to the next file or Back to Folder assignments if finished reviewing files. 

Grade files in an assignment folder with a rubric

1. 1. Open the assignment within the assignments area.
   2. Select the rubric.
   3. The rubric will release within the assignment window. For each criterion, use the evaluation panel to select the appropriate scoring level for the assignment.
   4. Add qualitative feedback for any criterion by selecting the Add Feedback link under it.
   5. The overall score will populate in the "Overall Grade" field as the rubric is completed. Add any additional feedback.
   6. Select Save Draft to hide feedback from students, or select Publish to make the feedback available to students.
   7. Select the arrow to navigate to the next file or Back to Folder assignments if finished reviewing files.

Give audio feedback on a file submitted to an assignment folder

1. 1. A working microphone connected to the device is needed for this function to work.
   2. Open the assignment within the assignments area.
   3. Select the Record Audio button under the "Overall Feedback" field.
   4. Select New Recording when ready to speak.
   5. Select Stop Recording when finished.
   6. Select the play button to preview the recording.
   7. Select Add when satisfied with the recording.
   8. Select Save Draft to hide feedback from students, or select Publish to make the feedback available to students.
   9. Select the arrow to navigate to the next file or Back to Folder assignments if finished reviewing files.

Evaluating students without assignments in an assignment folder

If students have not submitted files to a assignment folder, instructors can still provide feedback.

1. 1. Select assignments on the course navigation bar.
   2. Select the name of the assignment folder.
   3. Select the Show Search Options link. 
   4. Under "assignments," use the dropdown menu to select Users without assignments.
   5. Select the magnifying class in the "Search For..." text box.
   6. Select the Evaluate link for the student.

Add a file for a student

While there is no way to submit a file to a assignment folder on behalf of a student, there is a workaround to attach a file in instances where a student was not able to submit work on their own.

1. 1. Go to the assignments area.
   2. Select the folder.
   3. Select Show Search Options.
   4. Under "assignments," use the dropdown menu to select Users without assignments.
   5. Select the magnifying glass in the "Search For.." box.
   6. The page will refresh. There will a list of students who have not submitted work. Select Evaluate for the student for whom to submit a file.
   7. Under "Overall Feedback" select the upload icon [A]. 
   8. Upload the file.
   9. Select Save Draft.
   10. Enter any feedback or evaluate the student.
   11. When finished, select Publish.

D2L accepts file assignments of many types:  text document, web document, image, and media. Folders are also allowed, but must be zipped (i.e., folder1.zip)

Create categories

1. Navigate to Assignment Dropbox
2. Click Edit Categories on the top
3. Click Add Category to add a new category
4. Use Sort Order to change the order of how categories are presented on the Assignments homepage. 
5. To delete a category, select the check box next to its name, and click the trash icon.

Put assignments in a category

1. From the Assignment Dropbox page, select all the assignments you want in a category.
2. Click Bulk Edit.
3. Select the correct category from the dropdown.
4. Click Save.