Overview of the assignment activity

The Assignment Activity lets students submit work and allows teachers to give grades and feedback in Moodle.  This guide will lead you through the process of setting up online submission of work through an advanced uploading of files.  Information in italics will include pointers on administrative and procedural questions that you might want to take into account during the set up.

Setting up an assignment activity

  • Go to the unit on Moodle where you want to add the assignment
  • At the top right of the page or in the Administration block Turn editing on
  • Within the Week or Topic where you would like to add the assignment, open the Add an activity drop-down menu
  • Choose the Advanced uploading of files option
  • Complete the assignment settings (as outlined in the information and diagram below)
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and Save

It is recommended that you use Advanced uploading of files because this gives the most flexibility in the use of assignment activity in terms of multiple file uploads, submissions of drafts, feedback and resubmissions.

Assignment Settings

A diagram of the information below on how to set up your assignment activity is available here to download as a PDF.

  • Assignment Name/Description: are elements with an asterisk and highlighted in red, so must be completed
  • Description: The description box gives you a space where detailed submission instructions can be highlighted for students.  Many departments include in this section: requirements about file types, naming conventions, cover sheet details, statements about plagiarism, information about when and how feedback will be provided to students.
  • Due date: set your assignment deadline here
  • Prevent Late submissions: Decisions on late submissions tend to vary from department to department.  If late submissions are prevented completely then online resubmission will not be possible.  However, if they are allowed, then students will be able to overwrite their work after the deadline has expired.  To allow for a ‘soft’ deadline, some courses allow late submissions but take a back-up copy of the assignment straight after the deadline so that there is a reference point for checking that files have not been changed.
  • Maximum size: File sizes are important when dealing with digital content such as images, audio or video.  You may also need to amend the maximum file upload settings for the whole unit via the Settings link in the Administration block.
  • E-mail alerts to teachers: If you enable the e-mail alerts to teachers, every member of staff with teacher access assigned for this unit on Moodle (all teachers and administrators) will be sent an e-mail alerting them to every file uploaded to this assignment activity.  Most units leave this switched off and send a reminder e-mail directly to tutors (with marking to complete) once the deadline has passed.

Further information on using the assignment activity in Moodle