SacCT Assignments: Using the Assignment Tool

Presented by ATCS (Academic Technology & Creative Services)
Sacramento State

The Assignment tool in SacCT offers a formal environment for the submission and retrieval of graded assignments.

Keep in mind that some instructors post handouts that function as class assignments, but aren’t delivered through the SacCT assignment tool. These handouts might be Word documents, PDF files or Web pages.

Accessing Assignments

• The assignment tool in SacCT is accessed via the Assignments link on the Course Tools menu on your SacCT course page. Some instructors may also place assignment tool links in the course content home area.

The Assignment Window

• The assignments screen is separated into different tabs.
  • The tab labeled “Inbox” lists assignments that are available to you for submission. Once you submit assignments, you’ll be able to access your submission via the Submitted tab.
  • Assignments that have been returned to you (usually with a grade), can be accessed via the tab labeled Graded.
  • The last tab, the Published tab, is reserved for those assignment submission that have been published by either you or your instructor. As a student, your instructor may or may not have given you the ability to publish your assignment submission. “Published” assignments can be viewed by other students in the class.

Viewing Assignments

• If an assignment is available for you to submit, you will see it on your Inbox tab. Click the title of the assignment to access it.
• The window showing the assignment is divided into two different sections – instructions and assignment criteria on the left and status and submission area on the left.
  • The first section, the area on the left, lists instructions for the assignment provided by your instructor. Attachments that are related to the assignment might also be available in this area. The Due Date for the assignment, the Type – whether for individual or group work – and the Grading Criteria will also be listed.
  • The second section, the area on the right, provides you with a status area, submission box, Attachment feature, and a comment area.
• For some assignments, your instructor may only require that you submit text for the assignment in the Submission box. Others may require that you submit an assignment as an attachment. The comment section is optional.
• Keep in mind that an assignment might be set up to accept a Web site submission.
  • If this is the case, you would be required to create the Web site on your computer, compress the Web site files into a ZIP file, then upload the ZIP file as your assignment submission.
  • This video tutorial does not cover the details involved in this type of assignment.

Submitting an Assignment

1. To begin the general submission process, type any text required by your instructor into the Submission box.
2. If an attachment is required, click the Add Attachment button.
   1. To attach a file that has been saved on your computer, click the My Computer icon on the left.
   2. Click the first Browse or Choose File button, then navigate to your assignment file on your computer.
   3. Select the file, then click Open or Choose.
   4. Back on the Get Files window, click OK.
   5. You’ve attached your assignment file!
3. To complete your assignment submission, type any comments you might have about the assignment into the Comment box, then click the Submit button at the bottom to submit the assignment.
   1. Click OK to the confirmation message.
4. Remember, once submitted, you can access your submission from the Submitted tab. You may or may not be able to re-submit work for an assignment once you have submitted it. This capability depends on the assignment settings your instructor has decided on.

• If your instructor decides to return your assignment submission for additional editing on your part, you’ll be able to access the returned assignment via your Inbox tab. Normally, instructors will provide comments on the returned assignment to direct you in re-submitting.
• Once an assignment is graded by your instructor, you can access it and view the grade your instructor has assignment you via the Graded tab.
• Assignment grades may also be recorded automatically in the course Gradebook.
  • To access your grades, click on the My Grades link located on the My Tools menu on the left. This link will only be available if your instructor has opted to include it in the course.

Publishing an Assignment Submission

As you recall, “published” assignments can be viewed by other students in the class. The Published tab, located under Assignments, is reserved for those assignment submissions that have been published by either you or your instructor. As a student, your instructor may or may not have given you the ability to publish your assignment submission.

If your instructor requires that you publish an assignment submission, here’s how you would do it:

1. To the right of the Assignment title, you’ll see a small gray box, which is called the ActionLinks menu. Click on the ActionLinks menu and select “Publish Controls”.
2. Click “Publish” to complete the process.
3. Your “published” assignment can now be accessed from the “Published” tab by both your instructor and fellow classmates.
4. And remember – this is not a one-sided tool! You’ll also be able to view your classmate’s published assignments from the “Published” tab as well. That is, after they have been published!