Submit a Blackboard Assignment - Student Guide

1. In Minerva, open the relevant module.

2. You should find your Assignments in the Module Content area of the module. Ordinarily, go to the Assessment and Feedback folder and then the Submit My Work folder. Your tutor may also organise Assignments in other folders within the Module Content area.

Make sure you check the Assessment and Feedback  folder for what information is available to assist you with completing your Assignment – your School may upload an assignment brief or information about School procedures.

3. Click the name of the assignment

4. Now you will see key information about the assignment including:

• the due date and time
• grading information

In addition, depending on the settings your tutor has used, you may see:

• the number of submission attempts you will be allowed/have remaining
• a time limit, if imposed
• if there is a rubric for grading
• any restrictions on submitting late

5. Check to see if a grading rubric is being used and, if so, make sure you read the rubric. If there is a link called 'This item is graded with a rubric' under the Grading rubric heading - your work will be graded using a rubric. Click This item is graded with a rubric to open the Rubric Details panel and view details of the rubric.

Closing the Rubric Detail panel by selecting the close (X) icon from the top right will take you back to the information about the assignment.

6. Next, select View Instructions. Here you will see any instructions added by your School, with key information about the assignment highlighted again. At this point, you will also be advised if the assignment will be graded anonymously. A banner at the top of the page will say: 'This assessment will be graded anonymously. Don't include any personal information, such as your name.'

You are now ready to submit. Let's move on to Step 2.

Check what your module tutor requires from your submission (for example, you might be asked to submit one or more files of a certain type, e.g. PDFs, or you might be asked to write an essay using the on-screen text editor).

In the Submission area, underneath the Assignment Instructions, you might see the following elements:

• A text editor, which says Click to add text.
• A file upload section, which has options to Drag files here as well as options to Upload a file and Upload from cloud.

Note that your tutor will decide which of these two elements you can see.  In some cases, you might see only one of these elements.  In some cases, you might see both elements at the same time.  In the image below, both elements are visible:

To use the text editor, click into the field where it says Click to add text. You can type into the editor directly, and there are various options for formatting the text, and inserting links, images, etc.

To attach a file using the file upload section, you can either drag a file from a folder on your device into the box where it says Drag files here, or you can use the Upload a file option.  The latter will allow you to select a file from a folder on your device and click Open.

After you have uploaded a file, it will appear below the file upload section.  (If you want to remove an uploaded file, click on the trash icon next to it).

Note that when uploading multiple files, your tutor may ask you to combine them into a zip file first. If you're not sure how to create zip files, see zip your files for submission.

If you want to stop working for any reason and are not yet ready to submit, choose Save and Close.

When you are ready to resume working/submit, you'll be able to open the Assignment again by clicking Continue attempt.

Once you have used the text editor to write your submission, or used the file upload section to add the relevant files, and you are ready to submit, select Submit.

5. A pop-up window asking you to confirm if you want to submit the Assignment will be displayed. Select Submit.

6. Once you have clicked Submit, you should see a 'Your submission was successful' pop-up message. This will provide you with a confirmation number and the time and date of your submission. It will advise you that you'll receive an email confirmation shortly. Note: during busy times, it can take a few hours for you to receive an email.

You will also have the option to Download a copy of your submission receipt. We recommend that you always download a copy of your submission receipt.

Assignments with Multiple Attempts

You should be informed which attempt will be graded or if their is a grading calculation for all submissions. If your Assignment allows multiple attempts, return to the Assignment and follow the instructions as before. You will see the option to Start attempt 2.

Previous attempts are preserved.

Assignments with a Timer

You will be advised that the timer will start as you being the attempt. If you save a draft of the attempt, the timer does not stop or pause.

You can see the progression of the timer in the interface (above the instructions):

If you do not click Submit before the timer lapses then, depending on the settings your tutor has applied, you may see one of two messages when the timer gets to zero:

• Your Assignment will auto-submit and you'll see a message advising you the Time is up and that your Assignment has been submitted.

OR

• You'll see a message advising you that Time is up and that you can continue working for an extra amount of time, though work submitted after the limit may receive partial credit. Click Submit Now if you want to avoid the penalties for extra time.

Your tutor can create a Group Assignment where you will collaborate with other students and submit work that you all contribute to.

Your tutor may assign you to a Group or ask you to join a Group so that you can contribute to a Group Assignment.

Group Assignments where the tutor assigns members

In the Module Content area, if a Blackboard Assignment is a Group Assignment, you'll see your group name listed under the Assignment name. You can click the name of the group to review the members.

Group Assignments where you join a Group to participate

In the Module Content area, if you see a 'Join a group to participate' link under the Assignment name, select the link to choose a Group.

Clicking the link will open the Groups page, where you can join the Group of your choice.

Once you've selected a Group, the name of the Group you have chosen will appear under the Assignment name in the Module Content area.

The Assignment will then also be listed in your Gradebook for the module.

For further guidance on joining a Group, see Groups in Minerva.

Submitting a Group Assignment

Any of the group members can submit the Assignment on behalf the group.

• You can view a Group Assignment without submitting it. When you select Start attempt, you can just view the Group Assignment or add some work.
• If you are not ready to submit, select Save and Close. Your work on behalf of the group is saved and not submitted. Select Continue Attempt  to resume working.
• Everyone in the group can keep track of the latest version of the work. Until a member selects Submit, you can open the Group Assignment as many times as you want.

For guidance on how to submit your Group Assignment, refer to the guide for individual submissions above, keeping in mind that the Submit button can be clicked by anyone in the Group and that Group members should agree on who is going to submit the Assignment on behalf of the Group.

If you are typing in the editor, the word count appears below the editor. After you save, the word count no longer appears.

These items are included in the word count:

• Individual words
• Web links
• Text in bulleted or numbered lists, but the bullets or numbers themselves aren't included
• Superscript and subscript text not part of another word

These items and formatting elements don't affect the word count:

• Images, videos, and file attachments
• Math formulas
• Blank spaces and lines
• Alternative text

Once you have submitted your work, you should see a 'Your submission was successful' pop-up message. This will provide you with a confirmation number and the time and date of your submission. It will advise you that you'll receive an email confirmation shortly. Note: during busy times, it can take a few hours for you to receive an email.

You will also have the option to Download a copy of your submission receipt. We recommend that you always download a copy of your submission receipt.

Your tutor may allow you to submit an Assignment late, (late submissions may be subject to penalties).

After the due date has passed and you open an Assignment, you’re alerted that your submission will be classed as late.

If you need to submit late and are not able to, or are unsure of the penalties for submitting late, you must contact your tutor/school

Return to your Assignment and open it. Click View Submission to see the work you submitted. You will see all attempts you have made as relevant.

Note: depending on the settings your tutor has used for the Assignment, you may not be able to view your submission until after your work is graded.

When you open an assignment, the information will state whether you are able to submit more than once.

If you need to re-submit and are not able to, you must contact your tutor/school.

Your tutor may require you to enter a a 6-digit access code before you can view the Assignment.

If your tutor wants to use the access code feature, they will share the code with you. After you type the code in, you can open the Assignment. You can use the code to resume an Assignment you have started and not yet submit.

You won't need the code to view your grades and feedback.

If you are asked to enter an Access code and do not have one, please contact your tutor for help.