Assignments

Find out about accessing and submitting assignments.

Terminology: Assignments and assessments

At UWE Bristol we refer to assessments. Blackboard tends to use the word assignments.

Both assessments and assignments are activities that happen throughout your learning and at the end of a topic, term, subject or year. Some will count towards your final grade and some are designed to see how you are getting on.

Accessing assignments

You can access assignments in three places.

  • Activity stream.
  • Calendar (if your lecturer added due dates).
  • Your module’s content page. 

Due dates

If the due date has passed, you will receive an alert in the important section of the activity stream.

Finding final assessments

Go to the assessment submission points folder on your module’s content page for final assessments counting towards your overall mark.

Check your module handbook to find out when the final assessments are due. 

Opening an assignment

  1. Go to your module course content page.
  2. Find your assignment in the activity stream, the calendar (if your lecturer added due dates) or on your module’s content page.
  3. Click your assignment to open it. A panel opens – you'll find the description, due date, grading rubric, time limit and whether an access code is required.

If you need an access code, your lecturer will issue it to you. You will be told about this beforehand.

Grading rubrics

Some assessments will also have the grading rubric available. If so, make sure you study it before you start.

A grading rubric:

  • gives a clear set of criteria showing how your work will be assessed.
  • breaks down what your lecturer expects – like structure, analysis and use of evidence.
  • explains how marks are awarded.
  • makes marking fair and transparent and gives you a better idea of how to meet expectations and improve your work.

Starting an assignment

If there is no time limit, you can view an assignment and you don't have to submit it.

  1. Under the details and information of the assignment, select start attempt.
  2. Type your response directly into the editor or work in a separate programme and copy it (recommended for longer texts).
  3. If you are not ready to submit, select save and close to save your work and close the assignment.
  4. Select continue attempt to resume working at a later date.

Do not forget to submit your work once you are ready to do so.

Submitting an assignment

  1. When you're ready to submit, click submit.
  2. You'll get a confirmation message and your lecturer will be notified.

Video: submitting an assignment on Blackboard

Module assessment and feedback information area

Each module that uses the standard UWE Bristol template has an area providing:

  • help and support with assignments
  • links to further support
  • a tool called Studiosity, which you can use to get feedback on your writing.