There are two ways to do an assignment:

  1. Text Box – Use the online text box to provide links to images or audio files on a shared drive like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc., and videos on YouTube, etc. You can type your assignment directly into the online text box; in the toolbar, you’ll find various formatting tools.
  2. Upload a File – You can create your work in an application of your choice and then upload a text document as a PDF file.
  • Compressing a PDF file: If your PDF includes many images, it may be too big to upload. You will need to compress it. You can use these free PDF compression tools: Ilovepdf.com or Smallpdf.com. Do not create a user account on these websites; it is not required.


Submitting an assignment is a four-step process; make sure you finish the submission process.

  • First, click the “Add Submission” and upload your file or input text to the text box.
  • Next, click “Save Changes” (your assignment is now in draft);
  • Scroll down the page and click “Submit Assignment”.
  • Confirm that the work is your own and click “Continue.” You’re done; the assignment has been submitted for grading.


WORKSHEETS

If an assignment has a worksheet, you are required to use it. Most worksheets are provided as a Google Doc. If you don’t have access to Google Docs. you can download it as a PDF. First, click on the worksheet link, change the last 4 letters of the URL from copy to view. Go to the File Menu and select Download.

FILE TYPES

Not all assignments are written assignments. Some may require a diagram, a video presentation, or a voice recording. It’s important you submit a file that the teacher can open, so use common file formats:

  • Image files – you may be asked to draw a diagram, a poster, a comic strip, etc. You can use any software of your choice to create your image; you can use tools found on the internet or hand draw your work. If you hand-draw the work, you will need to either scan your drawing or photograph it. We recommend using an application like Microsoft Lens on your smartphone to ‘scan’ a drawing/graph, etc. This will generate a smaller file that is easier and quicker to upload. A photograph is often a large file, sometimes too large to upload. To submit an image file, make sure you have saved your work in a common file format; PDF is always the preferred file format. However, you can also use JPEG, GIF, or PNG. Important – Essays, reports, and similar text-type projects must be typed and submitted as a PDF or written in the text box. Teachers will reject a handwritten essay.
  • Video files – if you’re asked to create a video presentation, use your phone or video camera to film it. Save your file in a common file format, such as WMV or MP4. Video files are huge. Do NOT try to upload it on the assignment page. Upload your video to YouTube as an ‘unlisted‘ video (this means only a person who knows the URL to the video can view it, and it is not public). For step-by-step instructions on uploading an unlisted video to YouTube, go here. Use the text box to provide us with the YouTube URL to the video.

    If you don’t have access to YouTube, here are some alternative video-sharing platforms you can use. The platform you choose MUST play back video without requiring the teacher to download it; otherwise, the assignment will be reverted to draft.

  • Audio files – if you’re asked to create a voice recording or a radio ad, you will need to record yourself speaking. If you don’t have any software on your PC to record your voice, you can use this website: Online-voice-recorder. Save your audio file in a common file format like MP3 or WAV. Upload the file to the assignment or share a link from a shared drive.
  • Presentations – You can use any presentation software or a presentation tool from the Internet; just remember to save your presentation as a PDF so that your teacher can read it. If you embed video or audio into a Google Presentation, you will need to use a shared drive to share it. You must set the permissions to ‘anyone with a link’ for both the presentation AND the video/audio file, too. You will be required to submit the text in your presentation as a PDF, and upload it on the assignment submission page.

If you use Google Docs. for your assignment, you must download it as a PDF and then submit it on the assignment submission page.