Create and Manage Courseware Assignments

This article is for instructors who have created a course, and now want to start adding their own assignments, using content from Visible Body apps, quizzes from the Quiz Bank, as well as other files and links to outside resources. You can use any of this content to create and manage Courseware assignments.

In the tutorial below, you can see one example assignment created using content from Muscle Premium:

Copying Assignments with Bulk Editing Tool

One way to add assignments to your course folders is to copy individual assignments from other Courseware course folders in your My Courses page, and place those copies into new or existing course folders. 

1. Navigate to the assignment you want to copy 
2. Select the "+Bulk Editing" tool
3. Select the checkbox next to the assignment you would like to copy
4. Select "Copy"
   
   
   
   
5. The "Copy Assignments" screen will appear. Using the dropdown menus, choose the destination course and folder of the assignment copy.
6. Select "Copy Assignment Settings" if you want to maintain them in the destination folder.
7. Select "Apply", and you will see a notification that the assignment has been copied to the destination course and folder.

Create Visible Body Assignments

These assignments use assets from one Visible Body app to guide students through a certain topic or set of topics.

To start creating and managing assignments, log in to your Courseware account at courseware.visiblebody.com, and select your course.

1. Select the "Create New Assignment" button in the top right
2. From this page, you can create assignments with four different types of content
   Visible Body app content
   Quizzes from the Quiz Bank
   Links to other online resources
   Your own files
3. Start by selecting the "+ Create New Assignment" button in the upper right corner of your course 
4. Under the "Visible Body Content" header, choose from one of the following apps and then select "Continue."
   
   • Visible Body Suite
   • Visible Biology
   • Anatomy and Physiology
   • Muscle Premium
   • Physiology Animations
5. Navigate the dropdown menus and use the checkboxes to choose the assets you want to assign. You can also search for assets by name or keyword.

Select "Continue."

1. On the following page:
   • Name your assignment
   • Select a due date
   • If you want to delay your assignment's release, select "Yes" in the dropdown and choose a release date
   • Select a folder for your assignment or create a new one
   • Add a description if desired
     8. Select “Save Draft” or “Publish.”
     • • Note: You can let students know the assignment is available by checking “Send Email Notification” before selecting “Publish.”
         9. In the popup that asks “Are you sure you wish to publish?” select “OK.”

Create Custom Content Assignments

If you select Visible Body Suite or Visible Biology as your content source, you will also have access to all your saved custom Views, Tours, and Flashcard Decks to use as assignment content.

Saved Views and Tours

Here’s how to create and edit custom Views and Tours in Visible Body Suite and Visible Biology.

Follow the steps above for creating Visible Body Assignments from your custom Views and Tours.

• 1. For Step #3, you’ll select the dropdown for “My Library”
  2. Select checkboxes under “Favorites” or “Tours”, depending on your assignment goal
  3. Select “Continue” and follow the remaining steps

Saved Flashcards and Flashcard Decks

Here’s how to create and edit custom Flashcards and Flashcard Decks in Visible Body Suite and Visible Biology.

Follow the steps above for Creating Visible Body Assignments:

• 1. For Step #3, you’ll select the dropdown for “Flashcard Decks”
  2. Select checkboxes for the decks you wish to use
  3. Select “Continue” and follow the remaining steps

Note: Preview Mode (pictured below)

1. 1. 1. If you own a Flashcard Deck, you can always view it in full functionality mode. If you receive Flashcard Deck from another owner, it will download to your Flashcard Decks collection in Preview Mode. Examples of recipients could include:
         • • Students completing Flashcard Deck Assignments. It’s a good idea to remind students to select “Save Deck” after they launch the assignment
           • Colleagues sharing Flashcards or Flashcard Decks via share link (URL)
           • Users downloading Flashcard Decks from the Premade Flashcard Decks web page
      2. In Preview Mode, you may scroll between cards and flip to back or front only.
      3. For full functionality, select “Save Deck”.

Create Graded Quiz Assignments

These assignments are made up of one or more quiz from the Courseware Quiz Bank, which you can use to test your students' knowledge.

1. Under the "Visible Body Content" header, choose "Graded Quiz Bank" and select "Continue."
2. Use the filters and search bar to find the graded quizzes you want to assign.
3. Use the checkboxes to select your quizzes and then select "Continue" in the top right corner.
4. On the following page:
   • Name your assignment
   • Select a due date
   • If you want to delay your assignment's release, select "Yes" in the dropdown and choose a release date
   • Select a folder for your assignment or create a new one
   • Set grading and attempt parameters
   • Add a time limit if desired
   • Choose when you want students to receive feedback
   • Add a description if desired
5. Select “Save Draft” or “Publish.”
   • Note: You can let students know the graded quiz assignment is available by checking “Send Email Notification” before selecting “Publish.”
6. In the popup that asks “Are you sure you wish to publish?” select “OK.” 

Create External Link Assignments

These assignments can be used to share other great educational resources like YouTube videos with your students.

1. Under the "My Own Content" header, choose "Link to URL" and select "Continue."
2. On the following page:
   • Name your assignment
   • Copy and paste in a URL
   • Select a due date
   • If you want to delay your assignment's release, select "Yes" in the dropdown and choose a release date
   • Select a folder for your assignment or create a new one
   • Add a description if desired
     
3. In the popup that asks “Are you sure you wish to publish?” select “OK.”

Create Custom File Assignments

If you have your own presentations or activities, you can use file assignments to share them directly with your students.

1. Under the "My Own Content" header, choose "Upload a File" and select "Continue."
2. On the following page:
   • Name your assignment
   • Choose your file
   • Select a due date
   • If you want to delay your assignment's release, select "Yes" in the dropdown and choose a release date
   • Select a folder for your assignment or create a new one
   • Add a description if desired
     
3. In the popup that asks “Are you sure you wish to publish?” select “OK.”

See the notes below about File Storage Limits on instructor accounts and our Virus Detection measures.

File Storage Limit

Instructor accounts have a file storage limit of 10 GB. Every time you upload a file or image to Courseware, you use up some of this space. You can check how much storage you have used by selecting the dropdown menu in the upper right-hand corner of Courseware.

Virus Detection

We've increased our security measures regarding file uploading.

If you receive an email from us informing you that we detected a potential virus in your file attachment and deleted it, please consider using a different file. You may want to check with your IT department for further information.

Assignment Details

Once you’ve saved your assignment, you’ll be placed in the assignment details page. From there, you can:

• View your assignment details.
• Edit your assignment.
• Delete your assignment.
• Select "Back" to return to the Assignments page.

Bulk Editing

Courseware's Bulk Editing feature allows instructors to affect multiple assignments at once to publish and unpublish assignments or change due dates and release dates for assignments.

Watch the demo video below to see our bulk editing features in action!

How do I change multiple assignment due dates and release dates?

In your Assignments page:

1. Select "Bulk Editing" to enter Bulk Editing mode.
2. Select the folders or assignments you want to edit using the checkboxes.
3. Choose the "Assignment Dates" dropdown.
   1. To change due dates select "Due Dates" from the menu.
   2. To change release dates select "Release Dates" from the menu.
4. In the pop-up, enter a new date and time for the selected assignments.
5. Select "Apply" to set the new date.

If for any reason there is a conflict with dates (eg. if the new due date is set to before the release date for an assignment) you will get a notification and be prompted to adjust the dates. After entering a valid date, just select "Apply."

How can I publish all my assignments at the same time?

In your Assignments page:

1. Select "Bulk Editing" to enter Bulk Editing mode.
2. Select the folders or assignments you want to edit using the checkboxes. To select all your assignments, check "Select All" at the top.
3. Choose the "Publication" dropdown and select "Publish".
4. In the pop-up, check the "Send Email Notification" box if you want to send your students an email to your students telling them about the newly-published assignments.
5. Select "Publish" to publish your assignments.

I want to use my course again next year. Can I change the assignment due dates all at once?

In your My Courses page:

1. Find the course you want to use again. On the right side of the screen, open the dropdown menu for that course.
2. Select "Make a Copy".
3. In the pop-up:
   1. Enter a name for your new course
   2. Add a start date (ie. the first day of your semester, or the first day your course meets).
   3. Set the due date for your first assignment.
4. Select "Save".

This will set the due dates for all the assignments in your new course based on the intervals between the due dates in your original course. The intervals between the release dates and due dates in your original course will also be applied to the new course.

Can I do anything else with Bulk Editing?

Yes! You can also:

• Unpublish assignments in bulk, which reverts them to drafts. If your students have taken quizzes within an assignment that you're about to unpublish, Courseware will not allow you to unpublish the quiz. You can always delete your quiz, make changes to a new graded quiz, then publish to give your students another shot!
• See which of your assignments are published at a glance! If an assignment is published, it will have a green check mark next to the due date. If it is not published, it will have a gray no sign next to the due date.