Create and Edit Assignments in Blackboard Ultra

Overview

This guide can help with creating assignments in Blackboard. Assignments offer students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and achievement of designated objectives. When you create an assignment item in the course, it will automatically be added to the gradebook. You can also configure assignment due dates, and other settings.

Creating and Configuring an Assignment

Configure the Assignment

1. In the top pane of the New Assignment page, enter the title of the Assignment.
2. Set the visibility status for the assignment item.
   • If you would like the test to be visible to students on a certain date, choose the Release Conditions option from the Hidden from students drop-down menu, edit the settings to your desired specifications, and click Save.
   • Note: If you are assigning groups to an assignment, but do not have the groups ready yet, leave the assignment hidden until groups are assigned.
3. Set the Due date for the assignment, if applicable. If you do not wish to have a due date, then remove the date by checking "No due Date."
4. Select the Insert/Create Item icon and then Add text to enter the assignment instructions and upload any files you would like to provide for students to help them complete it. You can add the following item blocks to the assignment.
   • Question: Add a question as the assignment activity. The questions available for assignments are the same as those for tests.
   • Text: This allows you to add the assignment information using the Content Editor.
   • File: You may use this to upload the assignment instructions, a sample submission, or any supporting files the student might need to complete it.
5. Click the Assignment Settings icon (gear) to edit the assignment settings. Under Details & Information, set the Due Date for the item. If you do not wish to have a due date, then remove the date from this field by selecting it and deleting it.
6. Under Grading & Submissions, set the Grade Using for the item. If you do not wish to grade the item, then remove the point value from the field by selecting it and deleting it. If you later decide to grade the item, you can click the link to define the grading criteria. Also, determine how many attempts should be allowed.
7. Optionally, change the Grade category. By default this is set based on the item created.
8. Within the Additional Tools area, determine if you will set a time limit, create a rubric, assign groups, or enable SafeAssign.
9. Select the Save button.

Peer Review Assignments

Some instructors may want to use the peer review feature for individual assignments. Here are some notes on how peer review assignments work:

• A peer review assignment can’t also be a group assignment (group review another group)
• Peer review assignments cannot have multiple attempts.
• Peer reviewers are assigned randomly, so you can’t specify which students get which submissions.
• Students are able to write in a feedback box, but not able to make comments and markers on the assignment directly, that is reserved for instructors.