Managing Assignments in Sakai

One of the more frequently asked questions related to Sakai use is how to distribute assignments. This is a somewhat difficult question to answer, particularly because how one wishes to execute assignments depends upon teaching style. But after several conversations with faculty, I have discerned a pattern emerging that may help many organize the way they collect grades. There are three major forms through the left-column tools. There are others, but these three represent the fundamental principles of grading within Sakai. These tools are Drop Box, Assignments, and Forums. Additionally, to use the full functionality of these assignment options, it is best to employ the Gradebook tool as well.[1]

**Notice the star highlighting recent changes.

Drop Box represents a location for larger-scale projects and files in which students have access to their own private folder wherein they can drop files up to 10MB in size. Obviously, this is still a limited file size and will likely discourage most PowerPoint or video files.[2] However, for large paper projects, the drop box is a relatively basic but solid option requiring little prep time. Items such as word docs that the student uploads to the folder can be downloaded by the instructor, graded, and then re-uploaded to the student's drop box after graded. Additionally, a gradebook item can be created where the grade for the assignment is recorded.

An alternative to this process, and the most versatile of the assignment options, is the Assignments tool. On the assignments tool page, click the “Add” link at the top of the page to add a new assignment, and instructions can be typed into the provided text box or by attaching a document. By checking that the assignment is to be graded, a new item will be automatically added to the gradebook. You may also choose for student submissions to be returned as attachments or written into the provided text box, or both. Clicking on the “grade” link under each student submission will direct you to a page where you can review either the student’s submitted text, or download the student's attached document. Upon grading, you have the option to either make general comments on the submission in the provided text box (excellent for shorter reflection assignments), or make changes to the document with comments to reattach and return. Grades that are entered upon review of this student work are automatically updated in the gradebook. Additionally, assignments created through this tool allow for the automatic generation of an announcement (if so chosen) and/or email notification and the due date will be added to calendar of all participants in the class.

For even less complex responses, such as participation related to class discussion or brief reading reflections, Discussion items can also be attached to gradebook items. To make a forum topic graded, either click on the “edit” link of the “general discussion” topic (or create a new topic) and select the respective gradebook item from the list at the bottom of the page with which to associate student posts. Once you have created this topic, you must then create a thread to which students will reply. Unless you create the discussion thread, students will be creating their own discussion thread – under which others can only post new items, and not directly reply.

Things to remember: For items to be associated with the gradebook, they must be given a point-based grade (i.e. letter grades cannot be associated with items outside of the gradebook feature). If you intend to create assignments for the gradebook outside of the “assignments” tool, it is important to create these items in the gradebook well in advance. It often takes a while for these items to update, and therefore be included in the drop-down list which selecting gradebook associations for discussion posts or other references.

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[1] To add any of these tools to your class site click Site Info -> Edit Tools ->select the check box for the tools you wish to add, and then confirm thisaddition at the bottom of the page. You will then need to finalize yourselection, and done.

[2] An alternative is to print powerpoints as pdfs and upload the file in a pdf version.