Instructors > How To...
Using the Assignment Manager
Why use the Assignment Manager?
“I use the Digital Dropbox to exchange files with my students, and it works for me. What are the benefits of learning yet another Blackboard tool?” There are many reasons why instructors prefer using Assignment Manager to Digital Dropbox--for instance, the Assignment Manager makes it easy to exchange files with large groups of students, it is integrated with the Grade Center, it allows “batch” (all-at-once) downloads, and it provides space for including secure instructor notes and comments. The Assignment Manager tool is most appropriate for times when a grade will be assigned to student work. You may still find the Digital Dropbox appropriate for projects that will not receive grades, or for exchanging files between an instructor and one student (or a small, select group of students).
How do students access and submit and assignment?
To access the Assignment, students will enter the Content Area where the assignment is located and click on the link to View/Complete Assignment. They should be made aware that they must Save the assignment each time they view it, and that they should only Submit the assignment once it is completely ready for grading. Also, before submitting the completed assignment, students must type some content, however mundane, into the Comments field.
How do I view and grade submitted assignments?
Assignments submitted via Assignment Manager are accessible to instructors from the Grade Center only. When a student submits an assignment, an exclamation point will appear in the column under the Assignment Name on the Grade Center spreadsheet. Instructors may view the assignment by clicking on the exclamation point and then clicking View from the Modify Grade screen. This will open the Grade Assignment: Assignment Name page, where the instructor can view the assignment, enter a grade, submit comments for the student, make secure notes, and upload any additional files.
How do I download student assignments?
The Download Assignments page enables the instructor to download student assignments and save them.
Follow the steps below to open the Download Assignment page.
- Log in to the Blackboard Course Management System using your NetID and Password
- From the My Institution tab, locate and click on your course link where you would like to download student assignments
- Click the Control Panel button
- Select Grade Center which can be found under Assessment
- Click on the double arrows next to the name of the assignment you wish to download. Select Assignment File Download to be directed to the Download Assignment page.
- Check All: Select this option to download the files for all of the Students on the list who have submitted Assignments.
- Check Ungraded: Select this option to select the check boxes and download the files for those Students whose Assignments have not been graded
- Uncheck All: Select this option to deselect all of the check boxes.
- Select the check boxes next to the Student Assignments you would like to download. Individual or multiple check boxes may be selected. Click on Submit
- You will receive a message, “The assignments have been packaged." Click the Download assignments now link to save the exported assignments to a location on the hard drive, where they can be accessed.
- Click on OK when downloading assignments is complete to return to the Grade Center.
Students can view graded assignments by selecting Tools in the main course menu, and then My Grades.
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