Research Your LMS: Assignment Creation

Before creating an assignment in your LMS, it's crucial to understand the specific tools and features available. Take some time to research how to create assignments in your particular LMS. Focus on the following aspects:

How to access the assignment creation tool
Types of assignments you can create (e.g., text entry, file upload, discussion, quiz)
How to set due dates and availability windows
Options for individual vs. group assignments
How to attach rubrics to assignments
Settings for submission attempts and late submissions
Options for providing instructions and additional resources

Use your LMS's official documentation, tutorial videos, or consult with your institution's LMS support team to gather this information.

Try This Scenario: "The Digital Assignment Dilemma"

Ms. Chen, a high school English teacher, has been using traditional paper assignments for her entire career. After attending a professional development workshop on digital learning, she realizes that her current approach may not be preparing students for the digital world. She knows that transitioning to digital assignments will require learning new skills and rethinking her assessment strategies.

Feeling both excited and overwhelmed, Ms. Chen decides to create her first digital assignment in the school's new LMS. If you were Ms. Chen, what would you do? Click on the three options below to see the likely outcome of each:

Option 1: Dive in without preparation

Ms. Chen jumps into the LMS and tries to create an assignment without any prior research or planning. She quickly becomes frustrated with the unfamiliar interface and struggles to replicate her paper-based rubric. The resulting assignment lacks clear instructions and doesn't take advantage of the LMS's features. Students are confused by the format, leading to numerous questions and submission issues. Ms. Chen realizes she should have taken time to learn about the LMS's capabilities and plan her assignment more carefully.

Option 2: Seek guidance and plan carefully

Ms. Chen reaches out to the school's technology coordinator for guidance. Together, they explore the LMS's assignment creation tools and discuss best practices for digital assignments. Ms. Chen then spends time planning her assignment, considering how to leverage the LMS's features to enhance student learning. She creates clear instructions, attaches a detailed rubric, and includes multimedia resources to support student understanding. The well-designed assignment receives positive feedback from students and makes grading more efficient for Ms. Chen.

Option 3: Collaborate with colleagues

Ms. Chen forms a small group with other teachers who are also new to digital assignments. They attend a workshop on creating effective LMS assignments and then work together to design their first digital tasks. By collaborating, they share ideas, troubleshoot issues, and provide feedback on each other's work. Ms. Chen's resulting assignment benefits from this collective expertise, incorporating interactive elements and a clear, user-friendly structure. The successful collaboration leads to ongoing peer support as they continue to develop their digital assignment skills.

Create Your Own Assignment

Create an assignment in your LMS following these steps:

Choose a topic and learning objective.
Draft clear instructions and a rubric.
Use your LMS tools to build the assignment, including:
- Setting parameters (due date, submission type, etc.)
- Adding instructions and rubric
- Including any additional resources
Review from a student's perspective and adjust as needed.

After creating your assignment, reflect on the process in a brief paragraph (100-150 words). Consider the challenges you faced, how this compares to traditional assignments, and how you think it will impact student learning.

If you're unable to create an assignment in your LMS, simply outline what you would do if you had access.

Stuck? Rubber Duck!

In navigating the maze of Learning Management Systems (LMS), why not try a friendly chat with a rubber duck? Borrowing from the quirky yet effective "rubber duck programming" technique, select an object on your desk and talk through how you are stuck to it out loud! This warm, light-hearted approach can surprisingly help you untangle complex thoughts, leading to clearer insights about which LMS truly suits your needs. Sometimes, a little duck-side conversation is all it takes to find your way!