Skip to main content

Assignment Feedback: Moodle

Use Moodle Assignment tools to collect student writing, provide feedback, grade writing, return feedback, and support revisions.

Purpose:

This article explains how instructors can use Moodle to manage the writing assignment workflow from submission through feedback and grading.

Tip: These workflows can be combined. For example, you can use Annotate PDF for comments and a Rubric for grading.

Before You Begin

When creating a writing assignment, consider:

  • How students will submit their work

  • How do you want to provide feedback

  • How will you grade submissions

  • Whether students will revise and resubmit work

Step 1: Choose a Submission Method

The submission type determines which feedback tools are available during grading.

Option 1: Online Text

Students type directly into Moodle.

Best for:

  • Reflections

  • Journals

  • Discussion-style writing activities

  • Short written responses

Works well with:

  • Feedback Comments

  • Comment Inline

Online Text is not recommended for lengthy essays or research papers.

Moodle Assignment settings showing Submission types with the Online Text option highlighted.

Option 2: File Submissions

Students upload documents such as Word files or PDFs.

Best for:

  • Essays

  • Research papers

  • Draft submissions

  • Writing assignments requiring a detailed review

Works well with:

  • Annotate PDF

  • Feedback Files

  • Rubrics

  • Grading Guides

Moodle Assignment settings showing Submission types with the File submissions option highlighted.

Step 2: Enable Feedback Tools

In the assignment settings, enable the feedback methods you plan to use.

Available Feedback Types

  • Feedback Comments: Provide written feedback directly within Moodle.

  • Annotate PDF: Add comments and markup directly on a PDF submission.

  • Feedback Files: Return a reviewed document to the student.

  • Comment Inline: Copy an Online Text submission into the feedback editor so you can add comments and edits.

Moodle Assignment settings showing all Feedback types checked and with Comment Inline enabled.

Workflow A: Provide Feedback on Online Text Submissions

Use this workflow when students write directly in Moodle.

How It Works

When Comment Inline is enabled, Moodle copies the student's submission into the feedback editor. You can then insert comments, corrections, and suggestions directly into the copied text.

Important: Comment Inline does not provide margin comments, anchored comments, or Track Changes. It creates an editable copy of the student's text inside the feedback area.

Setup

  1. Edit or create a Moodle Assignment.

  2. Enable Online Text under Submission types.

  3. Enable Feedback Comments and Comment Inline under Feedback types.

Grade the Submission

  1. Open the submission.

  2. Select Grade.

  3. Add comments and edits within the copied text.

  4. Save changes.

Best For

  • Journals

  • Reflections

  • Short writing assignments

  • Draft responses

Expanded view of Moodle grading page displaying a student's online text submission copied into the feedback editor for inline comments and edits.

Feedback comments section enlarged to show more detail. Expanded view is highlighted in the upper right corner of the feedback box.

Student view of an assignment showing inline feedback and instructor comments within the submitted text.

Workflow B: Annotate a PDF Submission

Use this workflow to leave comments at specific locations within a paper.

How It Works

Moodle's Annotate PDF tool allows you to add comments and markup directly from the grading screen.

Students can then view the annotated document in their assignment feedback.

Note: Comments are location-based. Click the comment tool, place a marker on the document, and enter feedback in the side panel.

Setup

  1. Edit or create a Moodle Assignment.

  2. Enable File Submissions.

  3. Enable Annotate PDF under Feedback types.

  4. Ask students to submit PDFs whenever possible.

Grade the Submission

  1. Open the submission.

  2. Select Grade.

  3. Use the annotation tools to add comments and markup.

  4. Save changes.

Best For

  • Essays

  • Research papers

  • Draft reviews

  • Location-specific feedback

Moodle grading screen displaying the Annotate PDF tool with a student document open for markup and comments.

Student assignment feedback page displaying a PDF with instructor annotations and comments.

Annotation Tools Review

Upper Left-Hand Icons:

Moodle Annotate PDF toolbar showing the available annotation and navigation tools.

Upper Right-Hand Icons

Moodle Annotate PDF toolbar showing the available annotation and navigation tools.

To delete an annotation: select the cursor icon, click on the annotation you want to delete, then select the trashcan icon.

Close-up of the Annotate PDF interface highlighting the cursor tool and trash icon used to delete an annotation.

Workflow C: Return a Reviewed Document

Use this workflow when you prefer reviewing student work in Word or another application.

How It Works

Download the student's file, review it outside Moodle, and upload the reviewed version as a Feedback File.

Students can download the reviewed document from the assignment feedback area.

Grade the Submission

  1. Open the assignment.

  2. Select View all submissions.

  3. Download the student's file.

  4. Review the document.

  5. Open the grading screen.

  6. Upload the reviewed document under Feedback Files.

  7. Add a grade and any additional comments.

  8. Save changes.

Best For

  • Track Changes in Word

  • Extensive editing

  • Marked-up PDFs

  • Detailed document review

Close up of Moodle grading screen with the Feedback Files upload area highlighted for returning a reviewed document.

Enlarged view of the Feedback files section with a document inserted.

Student assignment feedback page showing a reviewed document available for download.

Step 3: Choose a Grading Method

Moodle supports both simple and structured grading methods.

Moodle Assignment settings showing Grading method dropdown options which include Simple direct grading, Grading guide, and rubric.

Use a Rubric

Rubrics allow you to score assignments using predefined criteria and performance levels.

Benefits

  • Consistent grading

  • Clear expectations

  • Faster evaluation

Setup

  1. Set Grading Method to Rubric.

  2. Create or import a rubric.

  3. Grade by selecting performance levels.

  4. Add criterion remarks if needed.

  5. Save changes.

Moodle advanced grading interface displaying a rubric with criteria, performance levels, and scoring options.

Student view of assignment feedback displaying completed rubric scores and criterion comments.

Use a Grading Guide

Grading Guides allow you to score criteria while providing narrative feedback.

Benefits

  • Flexible criterion-based grading

  • Detailed feedback

  • Frequently Used Comments to save time

Setup

  1. Set Grading Method to Grading Guide.

  2. Create grading criteria.

  3. Add Frequently Used Comments if desired.

  4. Enter scores and comments while grading.

  5. Save changes.

Moodle advanced grading setup page showing the configuration options for creating a grading guide.

Moodle advanced grading setup page showing the configuration options for creating a grading guide.

Moodle grading interface displaying a grading guide with scoring fields and narrative feedback areas.

Student assignment feedback page showing completed grading guide criteria, scores, and instructor comments.

Step 4: Support Revisions and Resubmissions

If students will revise their work, configure resubmission settings before the assignment opens.

Review These Settings

  • Can submissions be reopened?

  • How many attempts are allowed?

  • Will revisions be submitted to the same assignment?

  • Should students use a separate assignment for revisions?

Be sure to provide clear instructions so students understand the revision process.

Moodle Assignment settings showing options for reopening submissions and configuring the number of allowed attempts.

Student assignment page displaying an available additional submission attempt after feedback has been provided.

Recommended Workflow Combinations

Goal

Recommended Workflow

Quick feedback on short writing

Online Text + Comment Inline

Feedback on specific parts of a paper

File Submission + Annotate PDF

Detailed document review

File Submission + Feedback Files

Consistent structured grading

Rubric

Criterion-based feedback with reusable comments

Grading Guide

Multiple drafts and revisions

Assignment Attempts + Preferred Feedback Method

Instructor Checklist

Before making the assignment available:

☐ Submission type selected

☐ Feedback tools enabled

☐ Grading method selected

☐ Student view tested

☐ Revision settings reviewed

☐ Screenshots updated for the current Moodle environment

Did this answer your question?