How to Create an Assignment
Learn how to create and publish assignments for your courses in the LMS. This guide covers everything from basic setup to advanced configuration options.
🎯 What You'll Learn
- •How to create a new assignment for your course
- •How to configure assignment details and requirements
- •How to set up grading criteria and submission guidelines
- •How to publish assignments so students can see them
📋 Prerequisites
Before starting this workflow, ensure you have:
- •Teacher Account: Active teacher account with course management permissions
- •Course Access: Access to the course where you want to create the assignment
- •Assignment Details: Assignment title, description, and requirements ready
- •Grading Criteria: Point value and grading method determined
- •Due Date: Assignment due date and time established
🔄 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Access Assignment Creation
- •
Navigate to Your Course
- •From your teacher dashboard, click on the course where you want to create the assignment
- •You'll be taken to the course management page
- •
Access Assignment Creation
- •Click "Assignments" in the course navigation
- •Click "Create New Assignment" button
- •You'll see the assignment creation form
Step 2: Configure Basic Assignment Information
- •
Enter Assignment Title
- •In the "Assignment Title" field, enter a clear, descriptive title
- •Example: "Chapter 5 Reading Comprehension Questions"
- •Tip: Use specific, descriptive titles that help students understand the assignment
- •
Write Assignment Description
- •In the "Description" field, provide detailed instructions
- •Include:
- •What students need to do
- •How to complete the assignment
- •Any specific requirements or guidelines
- •Resources or materials needed
- •Tip: Be as detailed as possible to avoid confusion
- •
Select Assignment Type
- •Choose from available assignment types:
- •Homework: Regular assignments and practice work
- •Project: Long-term assignments and research projects
- •Quiz: Short assessments and knowledge checks
- •Exam: Major assessments and final examinations
- •Participation: Class participation and engagement
- •Choose from available assignment types:
Step 3: Set Assignment Parameters
- •
Configure Due Date
- •Click on the "Due Date" field
- •Select the date from the calendar picker
- •Set the time using the time picker
- •Tip: Set due dates that give students adequate time to complete the assignment
- •
Assign Point Value
- •Enter the total points for this assignment
- •Consider the assignment's complexity and importance
- •Tip: Use consistent point values for similar assignment types
- •
Set Assignment Category
- •Select the appropriate grade category:
- •Homework: Regular assignments and practice work
- •Tests/Quizzes: Assessments and examinations
- •Projects: Long-term assignments and research
- •Participation: Class participation and engagement
- •Final Exam: End-of-course examination
- •Select the appropriate grade category:
Step 4: Configure Submission Requirements
- •
Select Submission Type
- •Choose how students will submit their work:
- •Text Only: Students type responses directly in the LMS
- •File Upload: Students upload files (documents, images, etc.)
- •Both: Students can submit text and upload files
- •Choose how students will submit their work:
- •
Configure File Upload Settings (if applicable)
- •Specify allowed file types (e.g., .pdf, .docx, .jpg, .png)
- •Set maximum file size limit
- •Tip: Be specific about file requirements to avoid submission issues
- •
Set Late Submission Policy
- •Choose how to handle late submissions:
- •No Late Submissions: Assignment closes at due date
- •Accept with Penalty: Late submissions accepted with point deduction
- •Accept Without Penalty: Late submissions accepted without penalty
- •If using penalty, specify the penalty amount or percentage
- •Choose how to handle late submissions:
Step 5: Configure Assignment Visibility
- •
Set Assignment Status
- •Choose when students can see the assignment:
- •Draft: Assignment is not visible to students
- •Published: Assignment is visible to students
- •Scheduled: Assignment will be visible at a specific date/time
- •Choose when students can see the assignment:
- •
Configure Access Settings
- •Set when students can start working on the assignment
- •Configure if students can see assignment before the start date
- •Tip: Use scheduling to control when assignments become available
Step 6: Review and Create Assignment
- •
Review Assignment Details
- •Double-check all information for accuracy
- •Verify due date and time are correct
- •Ensure submission requirements are clear
- •Check that grading criteria are appropriate
- •
Save Assignment
- •Click "Save Assignment" to create the assignment
- •If the assignment is in draft status, you can edit it later
- •If the assignment is published, it will be immediately visible to students
- •
Confirm Assignment Creation
- •You'll see a confirmation message
- •The assignment will appear in your course assignment list
- •Students will receive notifications about the new assignment (if published)
🚨 Troubleshooting
Common Issues
Can't Access Assignment Creation
- •Check Permissions: Ensure you have course management permissions
- •Verify Course Access: Confirm you're assigned to the course
- •Contact Administrator: Ask your administrator for help with permissions
Assignment Not Saving
- •Check Required Fields: Ensure all required fields are completed
- •Verify Internet Connection: Check your internet connection
- •Try Again: Refresh the page and try saving again
Students Can't See Assignment
- •Check Assignment Status: Ensure assignment is published, not in draft
- •Verify Due Date: Check if assignment is scheduled for future
- •Check Course Enrollment: Ensure students are enrolled in the course
File Upload Issues
- •Check File Types: Verify file types are allowed
- •Check File Size: Ensure files are within size limits
- •Test Upload: Try uploading a test file to verify settings
📋 Best Practices
Assignment Design
- •Clear Instructions: Write clear, detailed assignment instructions
- •Reasonable Deadlines: Set realistic due dates that give students adequate time
- •Consistent Formatting: Use consistent formatting and structure for all assignments
- •Rubric Integration: Consider creating rubrics for complex assignments
Communication
- •Announcement: Send an announcement to students about the new assignment
- •Reminder: Send reminders as the due date approaches
- •Clarification: Be available to answer student questions about the assignment
Grading Preparation
- •Rubric Creation: Create grading rubrics before students submit
- •Grading Timeline: Plan when you'll grade submissions
- •Feedback Planning: Prepare to provide constructive feedback
🔗 Related Workflows
- •Assignment Grading Workflow - Grading and providing feedback
- •Course Management Workflow - Managing course settings and content
- •Announcement Creation Workflow - Notifying students about assignments
- •Gradebook Management Workflow - Managing grades and categories
📊 Workflow Metrics
Success Indicators
- •Assignment Creation: Assignment successfully created and published
- •Student Visibility: Students can see and access the assignment
- •Submission Functionality: Students can submit work as expected
- •Grading Readiness: Assignment is ready for grading when submissions arrive
Quality Metrics
- •Instruction Clarity: Assignment instructions are clear and comprehensive
- •Due Date Appropriateness: Due dates provide adequate time for completion
- •Submission Requirements: Requirements are clear and achievable
- •Grading Criteria: Point values and categories are appropriate
🎉 Assignment Created Successfully!
Your assignment is now live and visible to students. You can:
- •Monitor submission progress in real-time
- •Grade submissions as they come in
- •Provide feedback to students
- •Track completion rates and engagement
Need help with grading? Check out our Student Guide to understand the student experience, or explore our Teacher Guide for more advanced features.