3. The new “Assignments” feature

Probably the single best new feature in Bb 6 is the Assignments function. When you create an Assignment, in any content area, you automatically get a way for students to deliver files (or typed text) to you in the gradebook where you can review their submissions, give them comments, etc. The students contribute their work through the content area, and you access it through the gradebook.

What this means for courses migrated from Bb 5:

• Nothing. The Digital Drop Box is still there if you want to use it.
• Special note for beginning your summer classes: It is OK to tell your students to use the Digital Drop Box until you become familiar with this new feature. It will prove to be very useful but you can’t do anything with it until you are working in the new system.

Additional notes about “Assignments”:

• The assignment itself can be typed text and/or a file attachment.
• Students can type their responses directly into the text box and/or they can attach a file.
• When you review student work through the gradebook you can obtain their files, add comments to their files (through Word, etc.), add comments directly to Blackboard, attach files back to the students, post grades, and add notations just for your own records, all through a single window.

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