Assignment Tools
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Canvas Assignments
Newcastle University encourages the use of online submissions for assessments, with Canvas as the primary platform for hosting assignments. Submission points are created in the Assignments area of Canvas and offer a range of options to enhance assessment workflows, such as group assignments, peer reviews, and independently double-marked assignments.
It is also possible to include a Turnitin similarity report to check for indications of plagiarism
Newcastle University's Assessment, Feedback and Marking Policy includes guidance on the use of Turnitin for online assessment submissions. (Section: Online Submissions, Page 15)
Guide to editing Assignment Briefs in Canvas
Assignment Briefs are designed to provide students with all the information they need for a specific assignment. These details are no longer included within the assignment submission point. This ensures that the information about the assignment is available to all students from the start of the course.
There are three versions of the Assignment Brief
Assignment Brief Canvas Template – This is used when an assignment is set up with the Submission type option Online and the submissions will be marked using SpeedGrader. The assignment may also include a Turnitin Similarity Report.
Assignment Brief Turnitin Template - This is used when an assignment is set up using Turnitin and the submissions will be marked in Feedback Studio.
Assignment Brief Generic Template – This template can be used for any other type of assignment, that is not one of the previous options, such as in person presentations, art submissions or vivas.
Each Assignment brief contains links to the specific guidance that will support students when they are submitting their assignment and accessing feedback. It is therefore important to use the correct template for your assignment type.
Using the templates
The assessment information is no longer included in the assignment submission point. Instead, the assignment brief has a link to the assignment submission area, unless you are using the Generic Assignment Brief, which does not include the link.
To add specific assignment brief information:
- Make a copy of the required template
- Navigate to the Assignment Brief in the Assessment Information module.
- Click the three dots to the right of the template name
- Select Duplicate
- The duplicate version will appear in the list of Assessment Information
- Open the copied template by clicking the name of the template
- To begin editing the information, click Edit, the page will reload and update the view
- First, edit the Page title, so it clearly identifies the assignment the page relates to. It could also include the wording Assignment Brief
- The rest of the content that needs editing is displayed in the rich content editor box.
- Any text highlighted in yellow must be updated. Once edited, remove the yellow highlight. This can be done by selecting the text
- While the text is selected, click on the drop-down arrow next to the Background Colour Icon, and select Remove Colour, which is indicated by a white box with a diagonal red line through it.
The sections that require information updating
- Assignment Overview
- Assignment Instructions
- Submission Requirements
- Using AI for this Assignment
- Grades and Feedback
- Alignment to Learning Outcomes
- Policies
- Do not edit the Go to Assignments button as this is configured to direct students directly to the Assignments area in Canvas. The generic brief does not have the Go to Assignment button
- When all the information has been added, click Save and Publish and ensure the page is published.
Benefits of Canvas Assignment Submissions
There are many benefits to using online assignment submissions for both students and academics, including ease of use, availability, and accessibility. Some of the key benefits of using Canvas assignments include:
Multiple file submissions – This allows students to submit multiple files in different formats, for example an Excel file alongside a PDF poster and a Word report. Students can also upload media files or create content directly within the assignment, such as a video.
Similarity checker – The Turnitin similarity checker can be embedded within the assignment settings to check written assessments for potential plagiarism.
Online marking tools – SpeedGrader offers a variety of marking tools, giving academics a wide range of options when providing feedback while keeping submissions anonymous. These tools include inline comments, overall comments, annotations, and video feedback.
Rubrics – A rubric can be attached to an assignment and made visible to students before submission. This clearly communicates assessment criteria and enhances the marking process by providing a structured grading framework.
Delegated marking – By using sections in Canvas, team marking can be set up to divide student submissions among colleagues for feedback and marking.
Peer assessment – Canvas assignments include an option to enable peer assessment, allowing students to review and provide feedback on their peers’ work.
Group assignment submission – For assessments that involve group work, assignments can be configured to allow one group member to submit on behalf of the group. You can choose whether all group members receive the same grade or individual grades.
Independently double-marked assignments – This feature allows multiple markers to independently grade submissions, after which a final mark is agreed. If you are interested in using this setting in Canvas, it is recommended that you contact the Digital Assessment team via ltds@newcastle.ac.uk
Supporting Students with Digital Assignments
It is not possible to submit a file on behalf of a student for either a Canvas Assignment. If a student is experiencing problems submitting an assignment contact the IT Service Desk via NU Service.
Guidance for students on how to submit assignment on the Academic Skills Kit pages.
Feedback for Students
Information to support students on Accessing Student Feedback is also on the Academic Skills Kit pages.