View source for Teacher: Assignments Setup

The Assignment activity allows teachers to collect work from students, review it, and provide grades and feedback. It is the most used assessment tool in Moodle.

__TOC__

== 1. Creating an Assignment ==
# Turn '''Edit mode ON'''.
# Click '''Add an activity or resource'''.
# Select '''Assignment'''.
# Give it a clear '''Assignment name''' (e.g., "Week 4 Essay: Case Study").

== 2. Availability (Dates & Deadlines) ==
This is the most critical section to prevent student confusion.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Setting
! Function
! 💡 Best Practice
|-
| '''Allow submissions from'''
| Students cannot submit before this date.
| Set this to the day you release the topic.
|-
| '''Due date'''
| The official deadline. Submissions after this date are marked as <span style="color:red;">Late</span> but are still accepted.
| Always set a time (e.g., 23:59).
|-
| '''Cut-off date'''
| The "Hard" deadline. The "Add submission" button disappears after this date.
| Use this if you do not accept ANY late work. Otherwise, leave it blank to allow late submissions.
|-
| '''Remind me to grade by'''
| Just a notification for the teacher. Students don't see this.
| Set it to 1-2 weeks after the due date.
|}

== 3. Submission Types ==
Control what the student actually sends you.

* '''File submissions''': Students upload a Word, PDF, or PPT file.
** ''Maximum number of files'': Usually 1 or 2 is enough.
** ''Maximum submission size'': Stick to the site limit (e.g., 50MB).
** ''Accepted file types'': <span style="color:green;">Recommended.</span> Type `.pdf` or `.docx` to force students to use standard formats. This ensures you can open their files.
* '''Online text''': Students type directly into a text box in Moodle.
** Good for short reflections (200-500 words) or journals. Not recommended for long essays (risk of browser crash losing data).

== 4. Grading Settings ==
* '''Grade Type''':
** ''Point'': Standard numerical score (e.g., out of 100).
** ''Scale'': Pass/Fail, or Letter grades (A/B/C), if configured by the admin.
* '''Grading method''':
** ''Simple direct grading'': Just enter a number.
** ''Rubric'': A clickable grid of criteria (requires advanced setup).

== 5. Feedback Types ==
Ensure '''Feedback comments''' is checked. This allows you to write notes to the student alongside their grade.
* Optional: '''Annotate PDF'''. If enabled, you can draw/write directly on the student's PDF submission within the browser.

== 6. Granting Extensions (User Overrides) ==
If a student is sick and needs extra time, DO NOT change the main Due Date. Use an override.

# Click on the Assignment title to open it.
# Click the '''More''' tab (secondary menu) → '''Overrides'''.
# Select '''User overrides'''.
# Click '''Add user override'''.
# Select the student's name.
# Set a custom '''Due date''' and '''Cut-off date''' just for them.
# Click '''Save'''.