Draft:Brightspace Assignments

The Brightspace Assignments tool allows instructors to create folders in their Brightspace courses into which students can submit their work. Assignment folders can also be used to provide feedback on on-paper and in-person graded activities and track the completion of such activities. This was previously referred to as "Dropbox."

Assignment Basics

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Choose the right folder type

When creating a new folder, instructors can choose from two assignment types and four submission types to best match the nature of the activity. You cannot change the folder type once you save the folder. If you make a mistake, delete the new folder and create another one.

Assignment types

Individual. The assignment folder requires every student to submit an assignment independently. Students can only access their own submissions and feedback.
Group. The assignment folder allows any student in a group to submit an assignment to the group's folder. All students in the group can access submissions and feedback added to their group's folder. Establish groups using the Brightspace Groups tool before creating a group assignment folder.

Submission types

File. Students upload a file (e.g., .docx, .pptx, .pdf).
Text. Students enter their responses into the Brightspace HTML Editor directly.
On-paper. The submission of a paper copy of an assignment is recorded and instructors can post feedback.
Observed in person. The completion of an in-person assignment (e.g., presentation, lab, demonstration) is recorded and instructors can post feedback.

Manage allowable file types

Most assignment folders are of the file submission type, requiring students to upload a file from their computer or phone to the folder. By default, Brightspace permits students to upload a wide variety of file types. Instructors can restrict allowable file types to avoid confusion and leverage the built-in file annotation functions in Brightspace. When creating or editing an assignment folder, instructors can specify one of the following restrictions:

Annotatable files. This allows only file types file types compatible with the Brightspace annotation tool to be uploaded. Many common file types are included on this list. Learn more about the Brightspace assignment annotation tool.
PDF only. Only native Adobe PDF files and files converted to PDF can be uploaded.
Files that can be previewed without conversion. Using the annotation tool requires a copy of the file to be converted into an annotation-friendly format. For some assignments, instructors may want to bypass the annotation tool and require students to upload only file types not subject to this conversion. This includes .HTM, .HTML, .MHT, .MHTML, and .BMP files.
Images and video. Only common image and video files can be uploaded. Although students can upload common video and audio file formats to assignment folders directly, it is not recommended. Instructors are encouraged to use the integrated MediaSpace service for this purpose. Learn more about supporting video and audio production assignments.
Compatible with Turnitin. Only files that can be processed by the Turnitin Similarity service can be uploaded. Learn more about Turnitin.
Custom file types. Instructors can specify what file types can be uploaded.

Allow multiple drafts

Instructors can allow students to submit mulitple attempts, versions, or drafts of a single assignment. When creating or editing an assignment folder, the following settings are available:

Only one submission allowed. Once students submit their assignment to the folder, they cannot submit anything else.
Only the most recent submission is kept. Students can resubmit an assignment to the folder, overwriting the existing submission.
All submissions are kept. Students can send multiple submissions to the same folder, and all submissions are retained.

Use Turnitin

When creating or editing an assignment folder, instructors can enable the Turnitin Similarity service to identify matching or similar text to sources in Turnitin's databases. Turnitin is integrated with the Brightspace Assignments tool and cannot be used outside of Brightspace. If enabled, there are numerous settings instructors can use to configure Turnitin to best fit their assignments. Learn more about Turnitin.

Choose evaluation method

When creating or editing an assignment folder, instructors can choose from three evaluation options:

Ungraded. The folder is used to collect assignments only. Instructors cannot attach points or other feedback to submissions.
Graded - Not in Grade Book. Points and other feedback can be attached to submissions for students to review, but they are not transferred to the Brightspace grade book.
Graded - In Grade Book. Points and other feedback are transferred to a corresponding column in the grade book automatically. Learn more about the Brightspace Grades tool.

Set dates and conditions

When creating or editing an assignment folder, instructors can set a due date for the assignment. The due date has no impact on folder availability and is added to the course calendar automatically. Assignments submitted after the due date are flagged. Instructors can control student access to the assignment folder using the following features:

Start and end date. Use these to control when the folder opens for submissions and closes, respectively. Both dates are displayed on the course calendar automatically.
Special access. Make the assignment folder available to selected students outside the availability set by the start and end dates (e.g., for students who need more time to complete the assignment). Learn more about Brightspace special access.
Release conditions. Set release conditions to further control when students are allowed to access the assignment folder (e.g., only after they complete other course activities). Learn more about Brightspace release conditions

External links

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