How to use the Assignment Drop Box in Blackboard

The Assignment feature provides a dropbox style location within a course shell where students can upload files (assignments) which are available to the instructor. This provides an organizational and file storage advantage over email.

Adding an Assignment drop box to an area of a course shell:

1. Login to Blackboard and navigate to the course shell.
2. Select the location on the navigation bar where you wish the assignment feature to appear (Note: Only content areas will support an assignment feature. The Announcements, Discussion Board, Communication, and Instructor/Course Info areas of the site will not support an Assignment feature, on this page).
3. Select the Edit View link from the upper right hand corner of the screen.
4. On the next screen select Assignment from the Select dropdown menu.
5. Select the Go button.
6. On the next screen, type a title for the assignment into the Name textbox.
7. Provide complete instructions for the assignment in the text area provided, including:
   • Due dates
   • Completion methods
   • Technical instructions for submitting completed work (an example of text that can be copied and pasted into the assignment is listed below, under the heading Using the Feature).
   • Select the Save as Reusable Object checkbox save a copy of this Assignment for reuse at a future time.
   • Choose the location where this object will be stored within the Content Collection, by selecting the Browse button. NOTE: See the section titled "Reusing Assignment Objects" located within this document.
8. Under the heading, 2 Assignment Files, attach any files that are part of the assignment by selecting the Browse button. Example: "A worksheet made with Microsoft Word."
9. Choose any additional options that are appropriate under heading 3.
10. A column that corresponds to the assignment is automatically added to the Grade Center.

Other facts about the Assignment feature:

• Students will not be able to see or access the files uploaded by other students.
• Blackboard limits the size of files that can be uploaded and stored. The introductory storage limits are 1GB for an entire course shell, and 300MB of personal storage space. If additional file storage space is needed, please contact ITS to request a quota adjustment.

Reusing Assignment Objects

The Save as Reusable Object feature of Blackboard 8 makes it possible to save a copy of an Assignment and reuse it elsewhere at a later time. This feature is convenient and labor-saving for instructors who need to create many duplicates of identical items that regularly appear in a course shell or across course shells.

Examples of usage:

• Dr. Jane Smith offers three sections of an introductory history course online. She covers the same material in each section, including the assignments. Using the "Save as Reusable Object" feature, Dr. Smith is able to create each assignment once, and replicate it across all three sections of her history course shells.
• Prof. Bill Horn conducts a senior-level seminar online for students majoring in his discipline. As part of this seminar, Dr. Horn assigns a major paper. He wants students to use a writing process that includes successive drafts, and gives credit for each draft in succession. Using the "Save as Reusable Object" feature, Dr. Horn can create one instance of the Assignment, and then easily replicate this for each draft that students must send to him.

Creating a Reusable Object

Reusable objects are stored on the Blackboard server in the My Files area. (There is a 300 MB storage limit; contact ITS for assistance if additional storage space is needed.)

1. Select the checkbox that is found corresponding to the item that will be copied and stored for reuse, usually located adjacent to the Description or Message text box.
2. A textbox and a Browse button will appear. Select the Browse button. A new browser window or tab will launch.
3. In the new browser window or tab, select the folder where the copy of the object will be stored by selecting the title of the folder.
4. The folder will open and display its subfolders. Repeat selection of the subfolder titles until you have browed to the location within the hierarchy your folders to the location where the object will be stored.
5. If no destination folder is listed, select the Add Folder button located near the top menu.
6. On the new screen that appears, provide a folder title in the Folder Name text box. Set the quota limit, if desired, or this can be left blank.
7. Set the other corresponding folder options as desired.
8. Select the Submit button at the end of the screen to create the new folder.
9. Select the radio button that corresponds to that folder to choose it as the destination folder.
10. Select the Submit button.
11. The web address of the folder you have specified is now displayed in the text box.

Including a Reusable Object in a Discussion Board

Previously stored objects - Assignments - can be inserted into a Content Area of a Blackboard Course Shell.

1. Select the Discover Content button located at the upper right hand corner of the screen.
2. Select the radio button that corresponds to the object that you wish to insert.
3. Select the Submit button.
4. Make any changes or adjustments to the object.
5. Select the Submit button.

How do I view the assignments that my students have submitted?

Files sent through the Assignment feature are actually stored within the Grade Center for instructor view. This makes it easier to find, score, and provide feedback to students, all in one location.

1. Login to Blackboard and navigate to the course shell.
2. Select Control Center from the navigation bar.



3. Select Grade Center. It will take a moment for the Grade Center to load.



4. Any assignments that are waiting for review will be indicated as a green exclamation mark.



5. To view a particular assignment, move your mouse or cursor to the table cell where the assignment is listed. As your mouse hovers, a set of arrows will appear in the corner of the table cell. Select these arrows to see a new menu.
6. Select Grade Details from the new menu.



7. The View Attempt button is located on this next screen. Select this button to view a link to the file that the student has submitted, along with any messages from the student.



8. You can also use this screen to award points for the assignment, submit feedback to the student, or send a file to the student.
9. Select the Submit button, located near the bottom of the screen, to complete.

Instructions for Students - Using the Feature

1. Log in to Blackboard and navigate to your course.
2. Locate an assignment you need to complete. When you find an assignment, you'll see the clipboard icon and a link to Assignment Drop Box. Select this link.
3. If the Instructor has placed a file on Blackboard for you to download, click the file link next to the Assignment Files option.
4. Your browser (Internet Explorer, Safari) will ask you where you want to save this file. Choose a location on your computer that you will be able to find again.
5. When it has finished downloading, open the file using the appropriate piece of software - often this will be Microsoft Word - and complete the assignment as directed.
6. VERY IMPORTANT: Save your completed assignment on your computer harddrive or other storage device that you are using.
7. Return to the course website, to the appropriate assignment location, as you found in Step 2.
8. Click the Browse button to attach and upload your completed assignment file to your instructor. You may type a brief comment in the Comments area, but there is a limit on how much you can type so comments should be brief.
9. Select the Submit button when you are ready to turn in your assignment to your Instructor.
   Note: Choosing the Save buttonwill not submit the assignment. Your Instructor will not see the assignment until you have clicked Submit.