Student Guide for Using the Assignment Feature in Blackboard 6

The assignment feature is a tool that enables Columbus State Community College faculty to easily manage and
track homework and other assignments placed on Blackboard. This guide will show students how to properly
use the new assignment feature found on Blackboard.

Subjects Covered in This Guide:

- How do I know if my instructor is using the Blackboard assignment feature?

- Overview of the Assignment feature area – what do each of the areas mean?

- How do I download (or save) an assignment from Blackboard?

- How do I submit (or turn in) a homework assignment to my instructor?

- What is the Save button, and how do I save homework on Blackboard?

- How do I retrieve “saved” files form Blackboard?

- How do I remove “saved” files from Blackboard?

- How do I check my grades and feedback from an instructor?

I’m having a problem with:

- Blackboard will not allow me to resubmit a homework assignment to my instructor – what can I do?

- Keep getting the following error message when submitting: You must provide a value for comments.

How do I know if my instructor is using the Blackboard assignment feature?

If your instructor is using the assignment feature on Blackboard, you will see something similar to the picture below:

The assignment feature in Blackboard is represented by the icon that looks like a notepad with a pencil.

You will also see a link that will say something like “View/Complete Assignment:” along with the assignment name. In this example, the Assignment feature is being used for Homework 5.

Overview of the Assignment feature area – what do each of the areas mean?

How do I download (or save) an assignment from Blackboard?

1. Login into Blackboard, and enter the course and area where you would like to download the homework assignment.
   
   
2. Enter the Assignment area by clicking on the assignment link. See example below:
   

3. Under the Assignment Information area, locate the line item labeled “Assignment Files”.
   

4. Hover your mouse over the file link and right-click – a menu will appear. From the pop-up menu,
   select the option “Save target As…”
   
   

5. Using the file dialog box, select where you want to save your homework assignment on your local
   computer, zip disk, or JumpDrive.
   
   Once you have found where you want to save the homework assignment, click on the save button.
   

6. Click on the button at the bottom of the Assignment area to exit.

7. Your homework assignment should now be saved and ready for use.

How do I submit (or turn in) a homework assignment to my instructor?

Please keep in mind that once you submit (or turn in) your homework using the assignment feature, you will not
be able to resubmit a homework assignment. Please make sure that when it comes time to submit your homework
to your instructor, you have the correct homework file selected for submission.

1. Login into Blackboard, and enter the course and area where you would like to download the homework assignment.
   
   
2. Enter the Assignment area by clicking on the assignment link. See example below:
   
   
   
3. Because the Assignment feature requires you to make comments when submitting homework assignments,
   please make sure to type in at least one letter in the comments text box, or feel free to type in a comment to
   your instructor about the assignment.
   
   Note: if you do not place at least one letter in the comments box, you will not be able to submit your assignment.
   
   
   
   
4. Click the Browse button to select your homework file(s) to be submitted (or turned in) to your instructor.
   
5. Using the file dialog box, locate the homework assignment file you want to submit to your instructor. Double click
   on the file name to select your homework file.
   
   

Tip: if you need to submit more than one assignment file to your instructor, please click the button after selecting the first file to be submitted. Continue to repeat step 5 until you have all the files required by your instructor. Tip: to remove an unwanted file that you may have selected while using the button, click on the button associated with the file you wish to remove.

6. Click the button to submit (or turn in) your homework to your instructor for grading.

What is the Save button, and how do I use the Save button?

The save button, found in the Assignment area on Blackboard, allows you to save a document you are working on
directly to Blackboard. By saving documents onto Blackboard, you will have the ability to access and continue
working on the assignment from any computer that has access to the Internet.

NOTE: when you use the save feature, you will need to remove and resave all documents onto Blackboard as you
make any changes to any files saved onto Blackboard using the save feature.

Part 1 – Store an assignment onto Blackboard with the Save button for later use.

1. Login into Blackboard, and enter the course and area where you would like to save your homework assignment
   while you are working on it.
   
   
2. Enter the Assignment area by clicking on the assignment link. See example below:
   
3. Click the Browse button to select your homework file(s) to be submitted (or turned in) to your instructor.
   
4. Using the file dialog box, locate the homework assignment file you want to submit to your instructor. Double click
   on the file name to select your homework file.
   
   

Tip: if you need to submit more than one assignment file to your instructor, please click the button after selecting the first file to be submitted. Continue to repeat step 5 until you have all the files required by your instructor. Tip: to remove an unwanted file that you may have selected while using the button, click on the button associated with the file you wish to remove.

5. Click the button to save your homework files to Blackboard.

How do I retrieve “saved” files form Blackboard?

1. Login into Blackboard, and enter the course and the assignment feature area where you have saved your homework file(s).
2. Enter the Assignment area by clicking on the assignment link. See example below:
   
   
   
3. Under area “2 Your Files” of the assignment feature, you should see file(s) you save listed under the area labeled
   “Currently Attached Files:” See example below:
   
   
   
4. Hover your mouse over the file link and right-click – a menu will appear. From the pop-up menu, select the
   option “Save target As…”
   
   

5. Using the file dialog box, select where you want to save your homework assignment on your local computer,
   zip disk, or JumpDrive.
   
   Once you have found where you want to save the homework assignment, click on the save button.
   

6. Click on the button after you are done saving all saved files.

How do I remove “saved” files from Blackboard?

1. Login into Blackboard, and enter the course and the assignment feature area where you have saved
   your homework file(s).
   
   
2. Enter the Assignment area by clicking on the assignment link. See example below:
   
   
   
3. Under area “2 Your Files” of the assignment feature, you should see file(s) you save listed under the area
   labeled “Currently Attached Files:” See example below:
   
   
   
4. Remove saved homework file(s) by clicking on the button listed with each file.
   
   
5. Click on the button after you are done removing all saved files.

How do I check my grades and feedback from an instructor?

1. Login into Blackboard (http://globalcourses.cscc.edu)
   
   
2. Click on View Grades under the tools panel located under the MY CSCC tab
   
   
   
3. Click on the class link to view a listing of grades for that class.
   
   
4. Locate the homework assignment listed under the column heading “Item Name”, and then locate the grade
   for that assignment under the column heading “Grade”.
   
   
   If the instructor has graded the assignment, then you should see a grade value under the grade column. However, if you
   see an “!” mark listed for your grade, that means your instructor has not yet posted your grade into the Blackboard grade book.
   
   
5. To view further information and comments from your instructor about your assignment, click on the grade (or “!”) to
   see an in-depth review of the assignment.
   
   
6. Next you will see a detailed listing of everything related to the home work assignment. Area 3 is the area where you
   will see your grade, comments about your grade from your instructor, and a link to download your graded assignment.
   Download your assignment just as you download all other files associated with the assignment feature.
   

I’m Having A Problem Trying:

Problem: Blackboard will not allow me to resubmit a homework assignment to my instructor – what can I do?

Solution: The Blackboard assignment feature only allows students to submit (or turn in) assignments one time. If you find
that you need to resubmit a homework assignment to your instructor via Blackboard, please contact your instructor for
further assistance. Your instructor will need to reset your assignment before you are able to resubmit a homework
assignment via Blackboard.

Problem: I Keep getting the following error message when submitting: You must provide a value for comments.

Solution: In order for Blackboard to turn in a homework assignment to your instructor, you will need to type in a
comment in the comments area first. If you do not want to leave any comments about the assignment to your instructor,
you must at least type in a single letter in the comments text box area.