The various components that may be included in an assignment description may be conceptually grouped into a few categories:
- The What:
- An assignment title (required)
- Instructions or an overview of what the assignment requires or involves (required)
- Whether the assignment will be graded, and if so a rubric of some sort will be required (required):
- total possible point value for the assignment
- some other default rubric (e.g. letter grade, check marks, etc.)
- some custom rubric
- Any attached files
- The inclusion of any "sub-assignments" (i.e. whether a single overarching assignment involves multiple submissions, each assessed individually, e.g. first draft, second draft, final paper).
- If composite, a "What" will need to be supplied for each sub-portion.
- A list of other references or readings
- Specify learning outcomes or goals toward which an assignment is directed
- A set of general guidelines (e.g. paper format, how to cite references, etc.)
- Instructor notes - self-reminders for the instructor, or notes for assignment reviewers, invisible to students
- The Who (this is likely, but not strictly required):
- Specifying those who will submit the assignment. Options should include the entire site (the default), particular groups, or even public
- Specifying who will be doing the reviewing/grading
- The When (this is likely, but not strictly required):
- "Open" date and time - the date at which the assignment is available for submissions (the default is the time at which the assignment is posted)
- Due date and time (the default is to have no due date)
- "Accept until" date and time - in those cases where "late" submissions will be accepted (the default is to have the accept until date be the same as the due date, i.e., to accept no late submissions)
- The How (other constraints or options to be applied):
- Allowed forms of submission (e.g. inline text, file attachment, non-digital form) - the default is to allow any form of digital submission
- Whether multiple submissions will be allowed
- The conditions of any peer review
- A "model" assignment or solution to be available once assignments have been graded and returned
Authoring "wizard" idea:
- Use a multi-step wizard pattern for assignment creation, with a screen/step for each of the categories above (though with improved names).
- Since the only required portions are within "The What", authors could finish the wizard after the first screen, or at any further stage along the way.
- Options available on other screens could be accessed directly from the main assignments listing (e.g. with icons like a person, a clock, etc.), so that options could easily be tweaked after initial creation