When you are setting up Moodle Assignments for grading and feedback you should begin by specifying the required grade and feedback settings. To do this:

  1. Ensure Edit mode is toggled on in the top right corner of the course page.
    Edit mode toggled on

  2. Add an activity by selecting the + button between activities or resources or select Add a new activity or resource at the end of a section.
    Plus button between assignment and resources

    Add a new activity or resource highlighted

  3. In the activities and resources menu, select the Activities tab and select Assignment.
    Activities tab highlighted with assignment highlighted
  4. You will be presented with a list of settings to configure your Assignment, important settings include:
Availability
  1. In the Availability section you can select the allow submissions from setting that notes the date from which Moodle will allow students to start submitting their assignment.
  2. The Due date outlines the assignment deadline.
  3. The Cut off date prevents students submitting beyond the specified date. If cut off date is not enabled, any submissions beyond the due date will be labelled as submitted late.
  4. Remind to grade by displays in the teacher's calendar as the expected completion date of the assignment.
  5. Time limit sets a set time to complete the assignment. However unlink Quiz, it does not prevent students submitting after time has elapsed but if submitted after the time duration it is labelled as submitted after the time limit.
    Availability settings
Submission Types
  1. The Online text option permits students to directly provide their response in Moodle's text editor, which automatically saves text at regular intervals. If online text is selected, a Word limit can be selected.
  2. File submissions permits students to add one or more files of various types (docx, PDFs .odt, etc).
  3. Mahara LTI is used to accept Mahara e-portfolio submissions 
  4. Accepted file types allows the selection of the files format the student should submit their assignment in the form of. This is selected through the Choose button.
  5. The Maximum submission size limits the size of the file the student can submit.
Note: 100mb is the maximum file size that can be submitted.
Submission types section expanded

Feedback Types

  1. Scroll to the section titled Feedback Types and enable the feedback types you wish to use:
Moodle assignment feedback types in the settings page

  • Feedback comments - For communicating a general feedback comment
  • Annotate PDF - PDF annotation for detailed feedback using a variety of tools, stamps and comments
  • Offline Grading worksheet - To enter grades and general feedback in an offline worksheet (Microsoft excel)
  • Feedback files - To download assignment submissions, enter feedback comments and upload for students to review. 

Grade Settings

1. Scroll to the Grade section and complete the following settings:

Moodle assingment grade settings
  • Grade type - typically set to Point, but can be set to Scale.
  • Grading method - If entering a simple grade, select "Simple direct grading". If using a grading form, select "Marking guide".
  • Use marking workflow - Marking workflow is set to Yes by default, This allows you to control the release of grades and feedback to students. 
  • Leave all other grade setting as default. 
When you are finished specifying the feedback and grade settings, click either Save and return to course or Save and display.

Save and return to course button and highlighted Save and display button