Assignment Creation Guide

Overview

Assignments are the core of the FeedForward learning experience. This guide covers creating effective assignments, configuring AI feedback settings, managing submissions, and optimizing the assignment workflow for student success.

Creating Your First Assignment

Quick Start

Navigate to your course
Click "Create Assignment"
Fill in basic details: - Title: "Essay 1: Personal Narrative" - Instructions: Clear, detailed requirements - Due date: Allow adequate time - Max drafts: 3 (recommended)

Detailed Assignment Creation

Step 1: Basic Information

Assignment Details:
  Title: Research Paper - Climate Change Solutions
  Module: Unit 3: Research Writing (optional)

Instructions: |
  Write a 1500-word research paper proposing innovative
  solutions to climate change challenges. Your paper should:

  - Present a clear thesis statement
  - Include at least 5 peer-reviewed sources
  - Follow APA 7th edition format
  - Address counterarguments
  - Propose actionable solutions

Resources:
  - APA Citation Guide: [link]
  - Library Database Access: [link]
  - Sample Papers: [link]

Step 2: Submission Settings

Submission Configuration:
  Availability:
    Open Date: March 1, 2024, 8:00 AM
    Due Date: March 15, 2024, 11:59 PM
    Close Date: March 22, 2024, 11:59 PM

  Draft Settings:
    Maximum Drafts: 3
    Hours Between Drafts: 24
    Show Previous Feedback: Yes

  File Requirements:
    Accepted Formats: PDF, DOCX, TXT
    Maximum File Size: 10 MB
    File Naming: Optional pattern

Step 3: Rubric Selection

Choose or create an evaluation rubric:

Select Existing Rubric - Browse rubric library - Preview criteria - Clone and modify if needed
Create New Rubric - Click "Create Custom Rubric" - Define criteria and weights - Save as template for reuse

Step 4: AI Configuration

Configure how AI models evaluate submissions:

AI Settings:
  Primary Model: GPT-4 (Latest)
  Secondary Model: Claude-3 Opus
  Tertiary Model: None

Evaluation Parameters:
  Runs per Model: 3
  Temperature: 0.7
  Max Tokens: 2500

Aggregation Method: Weighted Average
  GPT-4 Weight: 60%
  Claude-3 Weight: 40%

Feedback Options:
  Feedback Level: Detailed
  Include Scores: Yes
  Show Confidence: No
  Highlight Strengths: Yes
  Suggest Improvements: Yes

Step 5: Advanced Options

Additional Settings:
  Peer Review:
    Enabled: No
    Anonymous: N/A

  Plagiarism Check:
    Enabled: Yes
    Service: Turnitin
    Threshold: 15%

  Special Instructions:
    Late Policy: -10% per day
    Grace Period: 1 hour
    Minimum Word Count: 1400
    Maximum Word Count: 1600

Assignment Types and Best Practices

Essay Assignments

Best for: Writing skills, argumentation, analysis

Recommended Settings:
  Drafts: 3-4
  AI Models: GPT-4, Claude-3
  Temperature: 0.7-0.8
  Focus: Structure, argumentation, evidence

Rubric Emphasis:
  - Thesis clarity (20%)
  - Evidence quality (25%)
  - Analysis depth (25%)
  - Organization (20%)
  - Grammar/Style (10%)

Research Papers

Best for: Academic research, source integration

Recommended Settings:
  Drafts: 2-3
  AI Models: GPT-4, Claude-3
  Temperature: 0.6-0.7
  Focus: Sources, methodology, analysis

Rubric Emphasis:
  - Research quality (30%)
  - Methodology (20%)
  - Analysis (25%)
  - Academic writing (15%)
  - Citations (10%)

Creative Writing

Best for: Narrative skills, creativity

Recommended Settings:
  Drafts: 3-5
  AI Models: GPT-4, Claude-3
  Temperature: 0.8-0.9
  Focus: Creativity, voice, narrative

Rubric Emphasis:
  - Creativity (25%)
  - Character development (25%)
  - Plot structure (20%)
  - Voice/Style (20%)
  - Technical writing (10%)

Technical Reports

Best for: STEM fields, professional writing

Recommended Settings:
  Drafts: 2-3
  AI Models: GPT-4, Claude-3
  Temperature: 0.5-0.6
  Focus: Clarity, accuracy, structure

Rubric Emphasis:
  - Technical accuracy (30%)
  - Clarity (25%)
  - Data presentation (20%)
  - Professional format (15%)
  - Conclusions (10%)

Managing Assignments

Assignment Dashboard

View all assignments at a glance:

Assignment Overview:
┌─────────────────────┬──────────┬────────────┬─────────┐
│ Assignment          │ Status   │ Submissions│ Reviews │
├─────────────────────┼──────────┼────────────┼─────────┤
│ Essay 1             │ Active   │ 45/50      │ 12      │
│ Research Paper      │ Upcoming │ 0/50       │ 0       │
│ Final Project       │ Draft    │ N/A        │ N/A     │
└─────────────────────┴──────────┴────────────┴─────────┘

Assignment Status Management

Control assignment availability:

Draft Status - Not visible to students - Allows full editing - No submissions possible
Published Status - Visible to students - Limited editing allowed - Submissions enabled
Closed Status - No new submissions - Existing submissions processed - Read-only for students

Editing Assignments

Make changes to existing assignments:

Safe Edits (Always Allowed)

Instructions clarification
Resource additions
Extended deadlines
Rubric descriptions

Restricted Edits (With Warnings)

Due date reduction
Rubric criteria changes
AI model changes
Draft limit reduction

Not Recommended

Changing file formats mid-assignment
Major rubric overhauls
Reducing maximum drafts

Submission Management

Monitoring Submissions

Track student progress:

Submission Overview Real-time Status: - Not Started: 5 students - In Progress: 15 students - Submitted: 25 students - Completed: 5 students
Individual Progress - Draft history - Improvement tracking - Time between drafts - Feedback viewed status

Handling Late Submissions

Configure late submission policies:

Late Submission Options:
  Accept Late Work: Yes
  Penalty Type: Percentage
  Penalty Amount: 10% per day
  Maximum Penalty: 50%

Grace Period:
  Duration: 1 hour
  Apply Penalty: No

Exceptions:
  Allow Individual Extensions: Yes
  Require Documentation: Optional

Bulk Operations

Manage multiple submissions efficiently:

Bulk Actions Available - Mark as reviewed - Grant extensions - Export submissions - Send reminders
Filtering Options - By status - By submission date - By number of drafts - By review status

AI Feedback Configuration

Understanding AI Models

Choose appropriate models for your content:

GPT-4 (OpenAI)

Strengths: General purpose, creative writing, analysis
Best for: Essays, creative work, complex reasoning
Temperature: 0.7-0.8 for balanced output

Claude-3 (Anthropic)

Strengths: Academic writing, detailed analysis, safety
Best for: Research papers, technical writing
Temperature: 0.6-0.7 for consistency

Gemini (Google)

Strengths: Multilingual, factual accuracy
Best for: International students, fact-based content
Temperature: 0.5-0.7 for accuracy

Optimizing AI Settings

Number of Runs

1-2 runs: Quick assignments, formative feedback
3-4 runs: Standard assignments, balanced perspective
5+ runs: High-stakes assignments, maximum consistency

Temperature Settings

0.3-0.5: Consistent, conservative feedback
0.6-0.7: Balanced creativity and consistency
0.8-1.0: Creative, varied perspectives

Aggregation Methods

Average - Use when: All models equally trusted - Result: Balanced consensus - Best for: Standard assignments
Weighted Average - Use when: Some models preferred - Result: Biased toward better models - Best for: Specialized content
Maximum - Use when: Encouraging improvement - Result: Most optimistic scores - Best for: Early drafts
Median - Use when: Avoiding outliers - Result: Middle ground feedback - Best for: Consistent grading

Advanced Features

Assignment Templates

Save time with reusable templates:

Create Template - Design assignment - Click "Save as Template" - Name and categorize
Use Template - Select from template library - Modify as needed - Deploy quickly

Conditional Release

Set prerequisites for assignments:

Prerequisites:
  Require Completion Of:
    - Assignment: Essay 1
    - Minimum Score: 70%

  Or Time-Based:
    - After Date: March 1
    - Complete Module: Unit 2

Assignment Analytics

Track assignment effectiveness:

Performance Metrics - Average scores by draft - Improvement rates - Time to completion - Feedback utilization
AI Usage Analytics - Model performance comparison - Cost per submission - Processing time - Feedback quality scores

Best Practices

Clear Instructions

Structure Instructions - Use bullet points - Highlight key requirements - Provide examples - Link resources
Avoid Ambiguity - Specific word counts - Clear formatting requirements - Explicit evaluation criteria - Defined expectations

Effective Rubrics

Align with Objectives - Match learning goals - Measure intended skills - Progressive difficulty - Clear indicators
Student-Friendly Language - Avoid jargon - Provide examples - Explain criteria - Show growth path

Feedback Timing

Quick Turnaround - Review within 48 hours - Enable rapid iteration - Maintain momentum - Support learning
Strategic Release - Consider class schedule - Allow revision time - Coordinate with lessons - Build on feedback

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Students Can't Submit - Check assignment dates - Verify file format settings - Confirm course enrollment - Test with student account

AI Feedback Delayed - Check system status - Verify API keys active - Review model availability - Contact admin if persistent

Inconsistent Scoring - Review rubric clarity - Check AI temperature - Increase run count - Consider different models

File Upload Errors - Verify file size limits - Check format restrictions - Test with sample file - Clear browser cache

Next Steps

Master Rubric Design
Learn about Student Management
Understand Feedback Review

Start with simple assignments and gradually increase complexity as you and your students become comfortable with the system.

Remember that AI feedback is meant to supplement, not replace, your expertise. Always review and enhance AI suggestions before release.