What is a Blackboard assignment?

For assessments requiring you to submit multiple files, or a video / audio, or a group assignment, your tutor is likely to set up a submission point on NILE known as a Blackboard assignment. The procedure for submitting a Blackboard assignment is slightly different from that of submitting a Turnitin assignment.  

This guide will provide you with step-by-step information on how to submit your work using Blackboard assignment.

Blackboard Assignments

The online learning system we use at UON is Blackboard, we call it NILE (Northampton Integrated Learning Environment). Blackboard has its own submission points separate from the Turnitin ones.

To submit:

• Go to the relevant NILE course and find the correct submission point. It should be inside the Assessment and Submissions section.
• Click its name to open it.

• Select View instructions. Assignment details are shown on the right.
  (If a marking rubric is being used, you can click to open it to see how you’re work will be assessed.)
• Click inside the Submission textbox to begin typing. See below for different options.

Uploading/attaching:

In most cases, you'll need to upload your assignment for submission.

• To submit Word, PowerPoint, PDF, etc., select the paperclip icon from the toolbar (image below).
• Find your file on your computer and click 'open'.
• Change the name if needed and save
• Review your document to ensure it is the correct file and you're happy with how it looks.
• When you’re ready, click Submit (bottom-right).
• Submit again to confirm.
• Wait for confirmation and download your receipt.

Creating a hyperlink:
In some cases, you're asked to provide a 'share link' to something created outside NILE, on MyPad or Padlet, for example.

⚠️ For Kaltura video submissions, see the Kaltura submission guide further down.

• Copy the web address (URL) from the website you need to link to. Ask your tutor for help if needed.
• Paste the web address into the textbox for your Blackboard assignment. 
• Highlight the text you want to make into a link.
• Select the link button on the toolbar. (See image below)

• Paste the link again and click insert. You will see the text is blue with an underline.
  You can click on it to test the link.
• Enter any additional text and when you’re ready, click Submit (bottom-right).
• Submit again to confirm.
• Wait for confirmation and download your receipt.

Multiple Files:
You may be asked to add multiple files to the same submission point.
You can start adding your documents and text, then select Save and Close.
Only submit once you've added everything. 
Your tutor will see all items on the same page for marking.

Your submission receipt:
Save your downloaded receipt to your computer.
Your receipt will also be emailed to you from do-not-reply@blackboard.com 
Your receipts are your evidence that you submitted. Why not set up a folder to save all your receipts together?

Similarity Score:
Sometimes your tutor may switch on the Turnitin Similarity Report feature inside the Blackboard assignment. It checks your work to see if anything matches text already online or in other students’ work.
If so, you’ll need to agree to the Turnitin Licence Agreement.
Just click the link to read it and submit to complete the process.

If your tutor has opted to let you see your similarity report, you will see 'Similarity Report Enabled', when you submit.

• Re-open the submission point.
• You will see 'attempts', click the link to open up your submission.
• You will see the % match in the top-right. 
• Click on the % and a new tab will open.
• Agree to the Turnitin agreement.
• You will see any matches highlighted on your document
• Close the tab when you're finished
• Close out of your assignment. 

See link below on understanding your similarity score.

Group Assignments

Group assignment submission points are set up when only one group member submits. 
You must make sure you know whether everyone needs to submit or only one group member, and decide in your group who will submit.

You will see in the Assessment and Submission area that it is a group assignment.

The person submitting the group assignment does so in the same way as an individual assignment.
Once the assignment has been submitted for the group all of you will see the green tick.