Homework and Assignments

Homework elements let you create assignments that learners complete outside of class, submit files, and receive grades from instructors or designated experts.

Creating a Homework Assignment

1. In the course builder, drag the Homework element onto your course map
2. Click the element to open the assignment editor
3. Configure the assignment details

Assignment Configuration

Basic Settings

Deadline Settings

• Deadline period: Set relative to course assignment date (e.g., 7 days after enrollment)
• Late submissions: Allow or block submissions after deadline
• Reminders: Automatic notifications before due date

Submission Settings

• File uploads: Allow learners to attach documents, images, or other files
• Text response: Allow typed responses in addition to files
• Attempt limit: Number of times learners can resubmit

Grading Options

Choose how assignments are scored:

Grading Criteria

Define specific criteria that experts use when evaluating submissions:

1. Click Add Criterion in the assignment editor
2. Enter criterion name and point value
3. Reorder criteria by dragging
4. Experts will score each criterion separately

Example criteria for a project assignment:

• Research quality (20 points)
• Analysis depth (25 points)
• Presentation clarity (15 points)
• Conclusion strength (20 points)
• Formatting and citations (20 points)

Assigning Expert Graders

Designate who grades submissions:

1. Open the homework element settings
2. Select Expert Assignment
3. Choose instructors or other qualified graders
4. Optionally set grading deadlines for experts

Learner Experience

When learners reach a homework assignment:

1. They read the instructions and download any reference materials
2. They complete the work offline
3. They return to upload files and/or enter their response
4. They submit the assignment
5. They wait for expert grading
6. They receive their score and feedback

Grading Submissions

As an instructor or expert grader:

1. Go to Statistics for the course
2. View pending homework submissions
3. Click a submission to review
4. Download and review attached files
5. Score each criterion
6. Add written feedback
7. Submit the grade

Pass/Fail Routing

In the course builder, homework elements support pass/fail connections:

• Pass path (blue arrow): Where learners go after achieving passing score
• Fail path (red arrow): Where learners go if they don't pass

This enables branching scenarios:

• Pass → Continue to next module
• Fail → Return to review material and resubmit

Homework vs Classwork

Best Practices

1. Clear instructions - Be specific about expectations and deliverables
2. Provide examples - Attach sample submissions or rubrics
3. Set realistic deadlines - Consider workload and complexity
4. Use criteria - Break grading into clear, weighted components
5. Give feedback - Don't just score—explain how to improve
6. Allow resubmission - Let learners improve based on feedback