Marking Options Overview (Original)

Overview

If you have not already setup your assignment submission, consider using Turnitin for text-based assignments (Word and PDF files), as Turnitin has a text matching (plagiarism detection) tool, an online marking tool and an iPad marking app.

If you decide to use the Blackboard Assignment tool, there are a range of online marking options, in addition to providing standard written feedback, depending on the file type submitted.

Online marking options

Written feedback and attached files (for all submission types)

In addition to providing written feedback, you can attach individual files (i.e. assignment files that have been marked in a different program) for individual and group assignments. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Enter marks / feedback and attach files guide.

Video/audio feedback (for all submission types)

In addition to providing written feedback, you can also record video/audio feedback. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Video and audio feedback guide.

Rubric (for all submission types)

In addition to providing written feedback, you can mark using a rubric. For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Mark using a rubric guide.

Note: The Blackboard rubric used in Grade Centre is different to the rubric used in Turnitin. It is not possible to transfer a rubric between Blackboard and Turnitin.

Inline grading tool (for Word, PowerPoint, Excel and PDF files only)

In addition to providing written feedback, you can use the Blackboard Annotate tool to provide in-text student feedback using the following features:

• General and in-text comments 
• Text highlighting
• Drawing
• Stamps

For step-by-step instructions, refer to the Comments, highlighting, drawing and stamps guide. 

Assignment files download and upload

Assignment files can be downloaded from Grade Centre in bulk (refer to the Download submitted assignments guide). The assignment files can be bulk uploaded with any associated feedback (refer to the Assignment File Upload Tool - Blackboard Assignment guide). Marked assignment files must be upload for each student individually (refer to the Enter marks / feedback and attach files guide).

Other marking options

Using Word

• Have the students submit assignments as Word documents.
• Download the assignments from Grade Centre. (Refer Download submitted assignments guide).
• Annotate the assignments in Word using comments and/or track changes.
• Enter the marks and attach the marked assignment files in Grade Centre. (refer to the Assignment File Upload Tool - Blackboard Assignment guide).
• Students can view the marked documents via My Grades.

Adobe Acrobat Pro (No cost to UQ staff)

• Have the students submit assignments as PDF documents.
• Contact your local IT desktop support to have a copy of Adobe Acrobat Pro installed on you UQ computer.
• Download the assignments from Grade Centre. (Refer Download submitted assignments guide).
• Add annotation, audio comments, bubble comment and inline comments (use a graphics tablet for annotations).

• Enter the marks and attach the marked assignment files in Grade Centre. (refer to the Assignment File Upload Tool - Blackboard Assignment guide).
• Students can view the marked documents via My Grades.

Note: You may find the software too "sluggish" for hand annotation.

PDF Annotator ($70) + Graphics tablet ($100) (Windows only)

• Have the students submit assignments as PDF documents.
• Download the assignments from Grade Centre. (Refer Download submitted assignments guide)
• Annotate the assignments on your computer using the software PDF Annotator and a graphics tablet.

• Enter the marks and attach the marked assignment files in Grade Centre. (refer to the Assignment File Upload Tool - Blackboard Assignment guide).
• Students can view the marked documents via My Grades.

Tablet apps

• Have the students submit assignments as PDF documents.
• Download the assignments from Grade Centre. (Refer Download submitted assignments guide)
• Copy the assignments to your tablet device (i.e. iPad or Android).
• Annotate using a PDF annotation app i.e.
  • iPad: iAnnotate
  • Andriod: Adobe Reader X
• Upload the marked assignments to your computer.
• Enter the marks and attach the marked assignment files in Grade Centre. (refer to the Assignment File Upload Tool - Blackboard Assignment guide).
• Students can view the marked documents via My Grades.