How do I add an Assignment?

Select Assignments.

In the target Sakai site, select the Assignments tool from the Tool Menu.

Select Add.

Select Add from the Actions Menu.

Give the assignment a title.

Type a name for the assignment in the Title field.

The assignment title should be something descriptive and unique, as this is the title students will see when they go to the Assignments tool to submit their work.

Add assignment instructions.

Enter the instructions for the assignment into the Assignment Instructions field. Use the Rich Text Editor to format the assignment description, and add images, links, or other media if necessary.

Add honor pledge. (Optional)

To add an honor pledge to the assignment, check the Add honor pledge checkbox.

Student view of the Honor Pledge

When the honor pledge option is selected, students must agree to the statement pictured above that reads "I have not given, received, or used any unauthorized assistance on this assignment" in order to submit their assignment.

Add Attachments. (Optional)

To attach any additional files to the assignment, such as a template for students to use, select the Add attachments button to browse for and attach file(s).

Specify the availability.

When creating a new assignment, the Open Date will default to the current day, and the Due Date and Accept Until dates will default to one week later. Change the dates using the calendar icon to bring up the date-picker calendar dialog.

The Open Date for the assignment is when it becomes available for accepting submissions.
The Due Date is the deadline to turn in the assignment.
The Accept Until date allows late submissions after the due date (late submissions will be marked as late). If not allowing late submissions, leave the Due Date and Accept Until dates the same.

Tip: Often, faculty like to set the time on the due date to 11:55 PM, as that is the latest time selectable time on a given day.

Send a reminder email. (Optional)

To have a reminder email sent 24 hours before the due date, check the checkbox next to "Send a reminder email 24 hours before the due date."

Hide due date from students. (Optional)

To keep the assignment due date hidden, check the checkbox next to the "Hide due date from students" option.

Add due date to calendar. (Optional)

If you would like your assignment due date to be added automatically to the Calendar in your class, check the "Add due date to calendar" checkbox.

Add an announcement. (Optional)

For an announcement to be automatically posted to the site Announcements tool regarding the open date for the assignment, check the "Add an announcement about the open date to Announcements" checkbox.

Note: The announcement will be posted immediately when the assignment is posted, regardless of the actual open date of the assignment itself. This send-an-announcement option is best used to announce changes in a due date, or the availability of a newly posted item.

Choose the submission format.

There are several submission formats that you may accept.

Inline only: Student may only submit a response by entering their content into the Rich Text Editor. The attachment option is not available. This is a good option for feedback and evaluation of the responses online without having to download or open any files.
Attachments only: This format removes the Rich Text Editor option and leaves only the attachment option available.
Inline and Attachments: This is the default format that allows either a inline submission via the Rich Text Editor, or to attach a file, or both.
Non-electronic: This format choice is for assignments that are expected to be submitted in person or using a different modality, but maintains the option to provide assignment details and/or grade the assignment in Sakai.
Single Uploaded File only: This choice restricts a submission only to a single file. (Both the Inline and Attachments and the Attachments only option allow students to upload and submit more than one file at a time.)
External Tool (LTI): This choice allows instructors to use a tool such as Labster as the submission format.
Video Submission: This choice prompts students to create a video. No external software is required for creation of a video.

Choose the preferred format from the dropdown menu.

Assign to specific site members.

Assign to each member of a site.

By default, an assignment will be displayed to everyone in the site. If selected, an assignment can be displayed to specific groups.

Note: In order to assign to either individual group members (the second option on the list) or the selected groups (the third option on the list), groups must be formed in the Site Info tool. For more information, see How do I create groups?

Assign to each individual member of the selected group(s). (Optional)

Select assign to indiv member of selected groups, then select the groups

If selecting the Each individual member of the selected group(s) option, the settings will expand to show a list of all existing groups in the site. Select one or more groups to display the assignment to those groups only. If selecting the Group Submission option, specific groups allowed to submit can be selected.

Note: This option only controls the visibility of the assignment for users in different groups. By default, each member of the group still submits an individual assignment, but this display setting identifies different assignments for different groups or sections.

Assign to the selected group(s), as a group assignment (one group member submits on behalf of the entire group).

Create a collaborative assignment by selecting "the selected groups," then choosing the groups

If you want students to submit one assignment per group, use The selected group(s), as a group assignment (one group member submits on behalf of the entire group) option.

Select check now to check for participants duplicated in gruoups

If you've chosen more than one group to submit a group assignment, a notice will appear offering to scan the groups for duplicate participants (students who appear in both groups). Select the Check Now button.

If there are no duplicate participants, you will receive a Success message confirmation.

If duplicate participants are present, an alert message will be displayed listing participate and group details. Duplicate group membership must be resolved in Site Info before the assignment can be posted.

Allow resubmission. (Optional)

If selecting to Allow Resubmission:

Check the checkbox to "Allow Resubmission." The options below will appear.
Use the dropdown menu to specify how many resubmissions are allowed.
Set a deadline for resubmission. Use the calendar icon to reveal the calendar date-picker.
Elect whether to notify students via email when the assignment grade is released and resubmission is available.

Tip: Instructors may also choose to allow resubmissions on an individual basis when they grade student submissions.

Submission notification options

Opt to send yourself submission notifications

The default notification setting is "Do not send me notification emails for any student submissions." To be notified, select either of the following two options:

"Send me a notification email for each student submission": This option will send a separate email alerting instructors of each submission immediately upon submission.
Send me one email per day summarizing notifications for student submissions: This option will send a digest email listing all student submissions for that day.

Choose the radio button for the desired notification setting.

Note: The notification email message will be sent to the external email address (i.e., Outlook) for the instructor's Sakai user account. It does not send the notification to the Sakai Messages tool.

Use Turnitin.

To enable Turnitin Plagiarism Service for this assignment, check the "Use Turnitin" checkbox.

Note: For more information on using Turnitin, see How is Turnitin enabled on an assignment?

Choose grade scale.

To grade an assignment, check the checkbox Grade this assignment.
Then, select the Grade Scale dropdown menu and choose a specific grade scale for the assignment. There are several grade scales to choose from:

Points: Grade an assignment by points (e.g., out of 100 points). This option must be selected in order to send grades to the Gradebook.
Letter grade: Grade an assignment by letter (e.g., A-, C+) only.
Pass/Fail: Designates an assignment as pass/fail.
Checkmark: Mark an assignment with a checkmark for completion.

Note: The only grade scale option that can be added to the gradebook automatically is Points.

Enter maximum points.

If "Points" is selected as the grade scale, enter a maximum number of points for the assignment.

Use grading rubric. (Optional)

Select the Use the following rubric to grade this assignment radio button.
Choose the desired rubric from the dropdown menu.
(Optional) Preview the selected rubric to make sure that it is the correct one.
(Optional) Check the checkbox for Adjust individual student scores to enable the option to change the number of points awarded for individual criteria ratings while grading student submissions on a per-student basis.
(Optional) Check the checkbox for Hide Rubric from student if students should not see the rubric prior to submitting.

Note: Rubrics must exist in the site before they will display in the menu. Shared rubrics must first be copied to your site before they will be available for selection.

Send grades to the Gradebook.

Within the points grade scale, there is also the option to send grades to the Gradebook. Once selected, this reveals two additional options:

Create new Gradebook item: This will create a new item in the Gradebook with the same name as the assignment title.
Associate with existing Gradebook item: This option allows an instructor to link an assignment to an existing gradebook item. Only one assignment can be associated with a single gradebook item and vice-versa.

Tip: Remember that only assignments with a Points grade scale can be sent to the Gradebook!

Use peer assessment.

Within the Points grade scale, there is also the option to Use peer assessment. Selecting this option will allow students to review their peers' assignment submissions.

To use peer assessment, check the checkbox Use peer assessment. Once selected, this will reveal additional options.
The Evaluation Period Finishes section notes the date when the last peer reviews can be submitted. (This date must be after the Accept Until date for the assignment.)
Anonymous evaluation allows students to submit their reviews without their names appearing to those they are evaluating.
Allow students to see reviews of their submissions enables students the ability to view evaluations from their peers of their submitted assignment.
The Number of submissions students must review is the total number of peer evaluations required.
The Instructions for reviewers text field allows instructors to outline specific instructions for students regarding peer assessments.

Note: Peer assessment can only be enabled under a Points grade scale.

Released grade notification.

The default notification setting is Do not send notification email to student when the grade is released. To notify students of a released grade, select the radio button for Send notification email to student when the grade is released.

Note: The notification email message will be sent to the external email address (i.e., Outlook) for the student's Sakai user account. It does not send the notification to the Sakai Messages tool.

Additional information. (Optional)

This section gives you the option of including additional information, such as a Model Answer, Private Note, or All Purpose Item. Select the Add link to add any of these items.

Model Answer.

The model answer can provide an example of the ideal correct answer or solution for a particular assignment.

Enter model answer in the text box provided.
To use a file that contains the model answer and/or solution, select Add Attachments button to browse for and select a file.
Use the Show to students option when the model answer should be displayed: Before student starts assignment, After student submits, After submission is graded and returned, or After accept-until date.
Select Save to apply changes.

Private Note.

To make any private notes that are not visible to students, enter them in the Private Note field.

Enter notes in the space provided.
Select who can read and edit the notes from the drop-down menu: Keep private to myself, Allow other instructors to read, or Allow other instructors to read and edit.
Select Save to apply changes.

All Purpose Item

Instructors may also create an All Purpose Item that can be displayed based on specific dates or users.

Enter a Title for the item.
Enter the content of the item in the Information displayed text field.
Select Add Attachments to browse for and attach file(s).
Select when the item should be displayed.
Choose which users can see the item.
Select Save to save changes.

Select Post.

Once assignment settings have been entered, select Post to apply changes and publish the assignment.

Loyola Support Documentation

How do I add an assignment?