Brightspace
Assignments
The Brightspace Assignments tool allows you to create assignment submission folders, set submission requirements, attach rubrics, and provide feedback to students. Using assignment folders creates a clear record of submissions, enables efficient grading workflows, and keeps student work organized in one secure location.
Assignments is Assignments guide 1 of 2.
Recommended Best Practices
- Create assignments directly in Content so they appear in your course modules
- Link assignments to gradebook items before the term starts
- Use File submission for most written work requiring file uploads
- Use On paper submission or Observed in person when appropriate to maintain gradebook organization even for non-digital work
- Attach rubrics to clarify grading criteria and streamline assessment
- Write clear, detailed instructions that include submission requirements and grading expectations
- Set due dates to add assignments to the course calendar
Before You Begin
Consider preparing:
- Rubric: Create your rubric before setting up the assignment so you can attach it immediately
- Gradebook structure: Set up your gradebook before creating assignments to link them to existing grade items and categories
- Assignment instructions: Draft clear, detailed instructions including purpose, requirements, and submission details
- Groups (for group assignments): Form your groups in Brightspace before creating group assignments
Creating an Assignment
Our Recommendation
Create assignments directly in Content so they appear in your course modules. If you create assignments via the Tools menu, students can only access them through the Tools menu unless you manually add them to your modules.
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Navigate to Assignment Location
- Go to Course Materials > Content
- Select the module where you want to add the assignment
- Click Upload/Create > New Assignment
Step 2: Enter Assignment Details
- Title: Give the assignment a descriptive name
- Instructions: Add detailed assignment instructions in the description field. Include:
- Purpose and connection to learning outcomes
- Step-by-step instructions with specific submission requirements
- Grading criteria or reference to attached rubric
- How and when students will receive feedback
Step 3: Configure Grade Settings
- In the Grade Out Of box, set the point value
- Use the In Grades dropdown to:
- Create a new gradebook item (default)
- Link to an existing gradebook item (select Edit or Link to Existing)
- Select a grade category if you’ve set them up
Step 4: Set Dates
- Due Date: Set the deadline for submission
- Due dates automatically appear in the course calendar
- Students can submit after the due date but submissions are marked as late
- Availability Dates: (Optional) Set when the assignment becomes available and when it closes
- Use for time-restricted assignments
- End dates override due dates
See also Dates, Deadlines, and Availability Quick Guide
Step 5: Configure Submission Settings (Submissions & Completion)
- Assignment Type: Choose Individual or Group Assignment
- Individual assignments: Each student submits separately
- Group assignments: One submission per group (requires groups to be set up first)
- Note: This setting cannot be changed after students submit
- Submission Type: Select how students will submit (see detailed options below)
- Number of Submissions: Decide how many attempts students are allowed
- Category: (Optional) Choose a category to organize assignments by type or topic
Step 6: Add Rubric and Evaluation Settings (Evaluation & Feedback)
- Rubric: Click Add Rubric and select from your existing rubrics
- Anonymous Marking: Check this option if you want to hide student names during grading (see guidance below)
- Annotation Tools: Leave enabled to provide inline feedback on submissions
Step 7: Save
- Click Save and Close
- The assignment now appears in your module and is linked to your gradebook
Watch this video to see how Assignment Submission folders are created:
Key Assignment Options
Submission Types: Choosing the Right Option
File submission (default): Students upload documents, images, or other files
- Best for: Essays, projects, reports, portfolios – any work requiring file uploads
- Options: You can restrict file types (e.g., PDF only, annotatable files only) or allow all file types
- Number of files: Set how many files students can submit per submission
Text submission: Students write directly in Brightspace using the text editor
- Best for: Shorter written responses, reflections, discussion-style assignments
- Benefit: Ensures text accessibility and keeps work within Brightspace
File or text submission: Students choose to upload a file OR write in the text box
- Best for: Assignments where you want to give students flexibility in how they submit
- Example: Students can upload a Word doc, paste a link to an external file, or type directly into Brightspace
On paper submission: Students submit physical work in class
- Best for: Paper-based assignments where you still want gradebook integration
- Benefit: Maintains consistency in your course structure – students see the assignment in Brightspace, know it’s part of their grade, and you can provide feedback through Brightspace even though they submitted on paper
- Note: Students cannot submit anything digitally, but you can upload scanned copies when providing feedback
Observed in person: Students complete presentations, demonstrations, or performances
- Best for: Presentations, oral exams, demonstrations, performances
- Benefit: The assignment folder links to your gradebook and provides a place to record feedback without requiring file submission
Our Recommendation
Use File submission for most written work. Consider On paper submission or Observed in person even for non-digital work to maintain gradebook organization and provide consistent feedback through Brightspace. This creates a better student experience – they see all their assignments in one place regardless of submission method.
Anonymous Marking: When to Use It
Anonymous marking hides student names during grading to reduce unconscious bias and increase students’ confidence in grading fairness.
When to use anonymous marking:
- High-stakes assignments where bias concerns are significant
- Assignments where student identity might influence grading (creative writing, opinion pieces)
- When you want to focus purely on the quality of work
Important considerations:
- Cannot be disabled once students have submitted
- Must publish all feedback at once using “Publish All Feedback” – cannot publish individual grades
- Students see “Anonymous User 1,” “Anonymous User 2,” etc. during grading
- If students include their names in the document itself, anonymity is compromised
- Let students know anonymous marking is being used and remind them not to include their name in the submission
Our Recommendation
Use anonymous marking thoughtfully. While it reduces bias, it also requires publishing all feedback simultaneously which can be cumbersome. Reserve it for assignments where bias concerns are most significant. For most routine assignments, rubrics provide sufficient grading consistency without the constraints of anonymous marking.
Restricting File Types
Under Submissions & Completion, you can restrict which file types students can upload:
Options:
- Any file type: Students can upload any file format
- Annotatable files: Only files that work with Brightspace annotation tools (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, images)
- Document files: Word, PDF, text files only
- Presentation files: PowerPoint, PDF only
- Custom file extensions: Specify exactly which extensions are allowed (e.g., .pdf, .docx)
Our Recommendation
For written assignments where you’ll provide inline feedback, restrict to Annotatable files. This ensures you can use Brightspace’s annotation tools to mark directly on student submissions. For other assignments, consider whether restriction is necessary – sometimes flexibility in file format reduces student frustration without impacting your grading.
Number of Submissions Allowed
Under Submissions & Completion, decide how many times students can submit:
Unlimited attempts: Students can resubmit as many times as they want before the deadline
- Best for: Lower-stakes assignments, drafts, iterative work
- Benefit: Students can correct mistakes or improve their work
- Note: You choose whether to keep all submissions or only the final one
One attempt only: Students can only submit once
- Best for: High-stakes assignments, exams, final submissions
- Benefit: Prevents last-minute resubmissions after seeing initial feedback
Specific number: Set exactly how many submissions are allowed (e.g., 2 attempts)
- Best for: Assignments with a draft and final version
Our Recommendation
For major assignments, use one attempt to maintain academic integrity. For lower-stakes work or when you want to encourage revision, allow unlimited attempts and keep only the final submission to reduce grading load.
Writing Clear Assignment Instructions
Students can’t ask immediate follow-up questions like they might in class, so clear written instructions are essential.
Your assignment instructions should include:
- Due date and any key milestones: Even though it’s in the assignment settings, repeat it in instructions
- Purpose: Explain the assignment’s connection to course learning outcomes
- Step-by-step instructions: Break down exactly what students need to do
- Submission requirements: What format, how many files, what to name files, etc.
- Grading criteria: Include or reference your rubric, explain what you’re looking for
- Feedback timeline: When and how students will receive feedback
Learn more about writing clear assignment instructions
Advanced Features
Special Access
Provide deadline extensions or modified requirements for specific students or groups who need accommodations.
Common uses:
- Extended deadlines for students with accommodations
- Different due dates for different sections
- Additional attempts for specific students
Special Access is configured in the assignment settings and overrides the default settings for selected students.
Release Conditions
Control when students can access assignments based on dates or completion of prerequisite activities.
Example uses:
- Assignment only becomes visible after completing a quiz
- Sequential assignments that unlock as previous ones are completed
- Content restricted until a specific date
Further Resources
- Evaluate assignments and provide feedback
- Support student audio and video submissions
- Preview assignments as a student
- Creating rubrics in Brightspace
Contact edtech@langara.ca for more information.
If you are a Langara employee, self-register for Essentials to Excellence: A Brightspace Companion for Instructors. This Brightspace course compliments the technical instructions found here with use cases, examples, and advice.
