Using LMS Assignments as off-campus digital open book exams

LMS assignments can be used to create exams in which students upload a prepared file. These can be set up so that they are only open for a specific window of time, with individual exceptions for students with alternative exam arrangements (AEA).

Assignment guides

• LMS guides
• Guide for LMS Assignments as off-campus digital open book exams.

Exam types suitable for LMS Assignments

• Exams with long answer questions
• Exams with file uploads, including:
  • Completion of a template the students have downloaded
  • A file containing students handwritten submissions.
• Exams with video submission from Echo360
• Exams marked by a rubric.

Features

• Optional Turnitin Similarity reports can be generated for Word, PDF, Excel and PowerPoint file uploads.
• A range of options for submission types:
  • File upload. These can be images or documents
  • Website URL submission
  • Media recordings (video or audio)
  • Echo360 videos upload
  • Text entry, where responses are entered directly into the LMS text box.
• Ability to restrict file upload types.
• The file submission process is quick and simple for students, as there are very few steps.
• The assignment ‘instructions’ window can be used to share a Word template of the exam which students download, complete and resubmit.
• Students will receive an on-screen confirmation of their submission, with the ability to preview the file they have submitted.
• Staff can limit the number of submissions students can make to an exam, or allow them to submit as many times as they need up until the due date and time.
• Easy to set up practice assignments throughout the semester so the students are familiar with the process prior to the exam.
• Grading will be completed through SpeedGrader with an option to download submissions.
• Grading can be completed by section or group.
• Assignments can be set up to use anonymous grading.
• AEA timings are fully integrated and managed automatically.
• A technical buffer of 30 minutes will be set up between the due date and the until date. This is considered submission time that is separate from the writing time, and any assignments submitted during this window will be marked late. After the until date passes, the student will be unable to submit.

Other considerations

• There is no countdown timer for the students, so they will need to be aware of the time left to submit their files.
• No automatic marking.
• No marking by question.
• Students do not receive an email confirmation of their submission, but they will be able to see the submission timestamp on the assignment page.