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As of August 1st, 2008, the Edutech web site will no longer be updated. Edutech was funded by the Swiss Virtual Campus programme, which ended on July 31st, 2008. Some activities will be taken over by the e-Learning Services group at the SWITCH foundation.

Creating an Assignment

Introduction

This page provides you with a step by step instruction for creating an Assignment in Vista. Further information concerning the creation of an Assignment in Vista can be found in Part 4, Chapter 8, Sect: "Assignment and Assignment Dropbox", Sub-sect: "Creating Assignments" in the  Designers and Instructors Reference, WebCT Vista 4 (pdf, 2.5 MB) p 168. Get UN & PW at edutech Vista Support.

How to do it

Create the Assignment

You can create two types of assignments:

• Text with attachments: A Text with attachments assignment requires Students to submit their assignment by entering text in the Assignments tool or by attaching files.
• Web site: A Web site assignment requires Students to submit a ZIP file containing linked HTML files that create a Web site. Students specify an entry point for their Web site and use relative links to link all pages.

1. From the Assignment screen, click Create Assignment. The Create Assignment screen appears. Start by completing the settings section.
   
2. In the Title text box, enter a title for your assignment.
3. If you want to use the HTML Creator to create instructions for the assignment, next to HTML Creator, select On. The screen updates and the HTML Creator appears.
4. In the Instructions text box or HTML Creator editing area, enter any instructions that Section Students require to complete the assignment.
5. If you want to attach files containing instructions or examples to your assignment:
• Click Add Attachments. The File Browser pop-up window appears.
• Navigate to the folder containing the files you want to attach. For help with navigating or using any other feature on the File Browser pop-up window, click the Help link that appears in the pop-up window.
• Next to each file you want to attach, select the check box.
• Click Add Selected. The Create Assignment screen appears with the selected files listed below Add Attachments.
6. If you want to remove an attached file, next to each attached file you want to remove, click the Remove icon. The file is removed.
7. Select the format you want the submission in:
• If you want Section Students to create written submissions and/or a collection of files, select Text with attachments.
• If you want Section Student submissions to be a web site composed of files with relative links, select Web site.
8. Next complete the Send assignment to section:
   Select Decide later.
9. Next complete the Dates section:
   Under Dates, select the date on which the assignment is due by doing one of the following:
• Click the Date Selection Calendar icon and, in the pop-up window that appears, select the date. The Due Date drop-down lists display the selected date. From the remaining Due Date drop-down lists, select the time at which the assignment is due.
• From the Due Date drop-down lists, select the due date and time.
• If you want to add the due date to the Calendar tool as a public entry, select Create a corresponding event in the Calendar tool.
10. Under Cutoff date, select the date after which Section Student submissions will be automatically submitted and labeled Missed by doing one of the following:
• Click the Date Selection Calendar icon and, in the pop-up window that appears, select the date. The Cutoff Date drop-down lists display the selected date. From the remaining Cutoff Date drop-down lists, select the time at which the assignment is cutoff.
• From the Cutoff Date drop-down lists, select the cutoff date and time.
11. Next complete the Grading section:
    If you want submissions to be graded:
• Select the Allow the assignment to be graded check box.
• If you want submissions to be assigned numeric grades:
• Select Numeric grade.
• In the Out of text box, enter a maximum numeric grade for the assignment.
• If you want submissions to be graded alphanumerically, select Alphanumeric grade. IMPORTANT: If you do not make a selection under Grading, the assignment is given a default grading scheme of Not gradable. The grading scheme cannot be edited once the assignment is saved.
12. If you want to allow Section Students to take back and/or publish their submissions, next to More Options, click the Expand icon. The More Options section expands.
13. If you want to allow Section Students to take back submitted assignments and resubmit them before the due date, select the Section Students can take back and correct work after submission check box.
    NOTE: You will not be able to grade submissions until after the due date.
14. Select whether you want to allow only the Section Instructor or both the Section Instructor and Section Students to publish submissions.
    NOTE: Publishing a submission allows all course members to view the submission.
15. Click Save. The Assignments screen appears and the assignment is created.

Other Resources Concerning this Subject

• Assignment Guide for Students from Steve Gallager at the City University London

Consult also the HOWTOs:

• Managing Assignments.
• Processing Assignment Submissions.

Skype us: A. Röllinghoff  R. Brugger