Create assignments in myCourses
Use the Assignments tool in myCourses to collect student submissions, assess their work, and return grades and feedback.
In this article:
Create an assignment
Click the Assignments link on your Navigation Bar.
Click New assignment.
Enter a Name.
(Optional) Click on Outcomes to align previously created learning outcomes to the assignment.
(Optional) Enter a Score:
To assign a score, in the Grade out of field, enter a value. If there’s an associated grade item, maintain consistency by matching the value of the Out of field to the grade item’s Max. points value.
To associate the assignment with a grade item in your Grades tool:
Click on the In gradebook drop-down menu and select Edit or link to existing. Here, you can create a new grade item or link to an existing grade item.
When you create a new Grade item you can choose the Grade category and the Grade type & scheme.Click OK when you are done.
(Optional) Enter a Due date: Select a date and time after which student submissions will be marked late.
(Optional) Enter Instructions: Add a description for the assignment and/or instructions for your students.
(Optional) Add files and/or record audio for the assignment. Students can download these attachments using links under the assignment on the main Assignments page.
Click the File upload icon
to upload files from your computer. For example, you can add a .pdf file of more detailed instructions or readings that students must complete for the assignment.Click Record audio to record audio instructions of up to 30 minutes.
Click Record video to record video instructions of up to 30 minutes.
Modify Availability, dates, & conditions. Add a Start date, End date, Release conditions, and/or Special access.
Modify Submission & completion. Select an Assignment type, category and set submission parameters for students.
Modify Evaluation & feedback. Add a rubric and enable Annotation tools and/or Anonymous marking.
Click Save and close.
Availability, dates, and conditions
Start and end dates
Select one or more of the following:
Select a Start date and time to open the assignment for submissions. If no Start date is selected, students will be able to submit their assignments at any time before the End date. After adding a Start date, you can choose the visibility of the assignment before the Start date, by clicking on Visible with access restricted located under the Start date box. Availability settings include:
Visible with access restricted: Students can view the assignment's name, dates, and restrictions, but cannot see the description or attachments.
Visible with access restricted is the default availability setting.
Visible with submission restricted: Students can view all the details in the assignment, but they are unable to make submissions.
Hidden: Students are unable to see any assignment details.
Add availability dates to calendar: By checking this box, the assignment will be added to the Calendar
Select an End date and time to close the assignment to submissions. Students will be able to see the assignment in the assignments tool, but will not be able to upload submissions after this date. If no End date is selected, students will be able to submit their assignments at any time after the Start date and/or Due date.
Release conditions
Create and attach Release conditions to the assignment to release it only to students who fulfill specific criteria. See the Release conditions in myCourses article for more information.
The release conditions set for in an assignment are automatically shared to the corresponding grade item. This ensures that the same set of rules apply for both, the grade item and the assignment.
If the grade item had release conditions before being associated to the desired assignment, the previously existing release conditions on the grade item will be removed.
Special access
This option is useful for giving alternative submission dates to students who have particular needs. Click Manage special access and select one of the following:
Allow users with special access to submit files outside the normal availability dates for this folder: The assignment is visible to all students. You can Add users to special access to set different submission dates for selected students. For example, if a student is granted an extension.
Only allow users with special access to see this folder: The assignment is hidden from all students except those who have been added to Special access.
Submission and completion
Assignment type
Select one of the following:
Individual assignment: Each student must submit the assignment.
Group assignment: Any group member can submit the assignment and all group members are assigned a common grade and feedback. You must select a Group category from the drop-down list. See the Create and manage groups in myCourses article for more information. This option only appears if you have created at least one group category in the Groups tool.
After receiving one or more submissions, you will not be able to change the Assignment type or the Group category.
Category
Click on the drop down menu to align a new or existing Category to the assignment.
Submission type
Four submission types are available when creating assignments. Select one of the following:
File submission
Students can submit a variety of file types.
Files allowed per submission: Select the quantity of files students will be allowed to include with each submission:
Unlimited: Students can include as many files as they want with their submission.
One file: Students can include one file per submission.
Allowable file extensions: Indicate allowed and restricted file extensions.
Submissions: Select the frequency with which students can submit an assignment:
All submissions are kept: Students can submit as many times as they want and all submissions are accessible. This option cancels out the One file per submission option because students would be able to submit multiple times.
Only one submission allowed: Students can submit once.
Only the most recent submission is kept: Students can submit as many times as they want, but only their last submission is accessible.
Notification email: Enter your email address or a comma-separated list of email addresses to receive a notification when a new submission is uploaded to this assignment.
Text submission
Students post text, an image, or a link to their work in a textbox within the assignment.
Submissions: Select the frequency with which students can submit an assignment:
All submissions are kept: Students can submit as many times as they want and all submissions are accessible. Note: This option cancels out the “One file per submission” option because students would be able to submit multiple times.
Only one submission allowed: Students can submit once.
Only the most recent submission is kept: Students can submit as many times as they want, but only their last submission is accessible.
Notification email: Enter your email address or a comma-separated list of email addresses ( jill@mail.mcgill.ca; john@mail.mcgill.ca) to receive a notification when a new submission is uploaded to this assignment.
On paper submission and observed in person
On paper submission: Students submit a physical copy of their assignment directly to you or other teaching staff. No file upload is required to complete the assignment.
Observed in person: Allows you to observe students as they perform tasks, such as in-class presentations, and evaluate them using the Assignments tool. No file upload is required to complete the assignment.
Evaluation and feedback
If you wish to use a rubric for grading, click Add rubric to select an existing rubric or create a new one. See the Create rubrics in myCourses article for more information.
Default scoring rubric: If you have associated more than one points-based rubric with the assignment, select a rubric from the drop-down list. The score and feedback from this default rubric will be transferred to each student’s score for the assignment unless you select a different rubric. If you do not select a default, the first rubric in the list will be used as the default.
Annotation tools: Select the checkbox to to make annotation tools available for assessment.
Anonymous marking: Select the checkbox to hide student names during assessment.
Anonymous marking is only active during grading, once you click to publish feedback or grades, this function is removed and the student names will be visible.
Edit an assignment
On the main Assignments page, click the arrow beside the name of an assignment and select Edit assignment.
Make your changes.
Click Save.
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