Annotations Assignments allow you to create an assignment that allows your students to annotate a file. Students can record their responses directly onto the file without having to download or print the document. This feature allows you to provide an attachment as part of the assignment without downloading or uploading it multiple times or assigning it individually to students.
This assignment type provides students with the following annotation options:
Add a text box
Add shapes, for example, circle, square, or rectangle
Highlight parts of the attachment
Pen tool for drawing and writing
Note: Type annotations (e.g., underline, highlight, and squiggly) will only work for text within an uploaded document. Type annotations will not work on images, even if the image contains text. The preferable file type is PDF.
Students have the following options:
Edit Draft: Students who have not submitted their assignment can resume working where they left off.
Resubmit Assignment: A student can return to an assignment if you want the student to try the assignment again.
Steps to Creating an Annotations Assignment
Navigate to your Schoology course and click the chevron to the left of one of your main folders to expand the folder.
Hover your mouse pointer directly below the location where you want to add the assignment until you see a green dashed line.
Left-click your mouse and then click Add Assignment.
Name: Enter the assignment name, which will be displayed inside your folder. Provide a unique and meaningful name for every assignment in your course. This makes it easy for you and your students to locate the assignment in the gradebook. For example, you can add the week or topic number to the beginning of the assignment name.
Additionally, at the end of the name, it’s very helpful to add the approximate amount of time it will take students to complete the assignment along with the number of points that can be earned.
Description: In the assignment description, provide clear and concise instructions on how to complete the assignment. Including an audio or video recording is recommended for your assignments to create a teacher presence and to enhance assignment instructions.
Use the rich text editor tools to apply formatting to the font; change the indent or alignment of selected text; insert a link, image, or table; spellcheck the description; apply paragraph headers; and switch between Visual and HTML.
REQUIRED: Per eAcademy course requirements, include the approximate amount of time it will take students to complete the assignment. Also include the number of points that can be earned.
Here are Assignment Instructions you can include in your Description, if desired.
~ Click Start Assignment to view the file. It may take a few moments for the file to appear.
~ Following the instructions, complete the worksheet using the annotations toolbar.
~ When finished, click Submit at the bottom right of the worksheet.
RESOURCE WITH STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS:
Format Options: Select Annotations Assignment. Students will annotate their own copy of a file. Supported file formats include: DOC, DOCX, HTML, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TXT, XLS, XLXS, and XML.
NOTE: Be aware that not every student has a Microsoft account. For best results, select a universal file format like a PDF file.
From your device, select the file you would like students to complete.
The file is now attached to the assignment.
REQUIRED - Due date and Time: All graded eAcademy assignments must have a Due date and time. To provide students with plenty of time to submit the assignment, set the time to 11:59 PM. This is a soft End Date and students can submit the assignment after this date unless you use the Lock feature (see Lock information at the bottom of this resource).
pts: Enter the number of points the assignment is worth.
Category: From the Category drop-down menu, select Assignments.
Period: From the Period drop-down menu, select the grading period that aligns with the Due date. DO NOT select Set as midterm/final. This may negatively impact student grades.
Factor: Leave the Factor setting at the default value.
[NEW] Collected Type: Checking the box will disable the ability to add a traditional score to the assignment in the gradebook. This is an Exception code that allows you to forgo traditional grading on a material. You can keep track of student work on assignments without impacting grading calculations as appropriate (e.g., Field Trip Forms). Enabling this setting will create a new column in the gradebook.
Scale/Rubric: Leave the Scale/Rubric setting at the default value.
Click Create.
If desired, you can change the Options at the bottom of the Create Assignment window.
Individually Assign: Use this setting to only display the assignment to one or more members of the course or a grading group.
Lock: This setting prevents students from making submissions.
By default, this feature is disabled. Click the Lock icon to get started. From the drop-down menu, select either Lock on… or Lock now. If you select Lock on…, enter the date and time you wish to lock the assignment.
Submissions Enabled: You can opt to disable submissions if the assignment does not require something in return from the student - for example, reading homework.
Published to students: Use this setting to display or hide the assignment from the student view. The assignment is published by default and immediately available to students.
Grade Statistics: When enabled, this setting displays the statistics for the assignment to the students, which is located in an icon above the assignment submissions.
Comments: This setting is enabled by default and allows students to comment on the assignment. Use care with this setting because students may think the Comment box is used for assignment submissions. You may want to disable this setting.
[NEW] Count in Grade: This setting is enabled by default.
If disabled, this setting allows you to exclude a material’s scores from the grade calculations. This allows you, students, and parents to know immediately if a material is used in grading.
An example might be a pre-test you don’t want to count in grade calculations. The assignment grade will appear in purple italics in the gradebook and will not impact a student’s overall grade.
Copy to Courses: This setting allows you to copy the assignment with the current settings and options to another course.
Viewing Student Submissions
Navigate to your Schoology course and click the assignment name.
Click one of the students listed under Submissions.
Review the student’s submission. Enter the grade and grade comments, check the box next to Show to student, and then click Submit.
Use the chevrons on the right and left of each submission to navigate to other students and continue grading any submitted assignments.
Click the x to the left of Submission Activity on the right side of the window to return to the assignment.
From the course landing page under Reminders on the right, you’ll see the total number of ungraded assignment submissions.