You can access a practice course on Blackboard to try out the process of submitting different assessment types online.

First please log into Blackboard and then click this link: Online Assessment Practice Course

You will be asked to self-enrol on the course when you first access it. After this the course will appear in your course list on Blackboard, alongside your existing modules.

If your tutor is using Crowdmark, they will be in touch to give more details about trying out submitting in this way. This will either be on your existing course or a separate course specifically to try out this approach.

• Visit the Blackboard Browser Checker in advance of the assessment period to check your browser and operating system.
• Check your WiFi / use a network cable where possible.
• Minimise other internet usage and avoid using streaming services when trying to submit work or taking an online test.
• Manage your Windows Updates to ensure your PC does not try to restart itself whilst you are taking a test.
• If you’re using a laptop, check the power supply is plugged in to the mains and turned on.

301: Academic Skills Centre have developed resources to help you tackle the range of assessments you may be undertaking remotely, as well as tips and techniques on creating a good working environment to help you stay on top of your workload.

301: Guide to Alternative Assessment

301: Remote Study Strategies

The Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS) have information on how disabled students' exam support requirements will be accommodated with the move to online assessment.

DDSS also has guidance on how to take part in the University's yellow sticker scheme indicating you have a documented disability which affects your written communication when submitting assessments electronically via Blackboard Assignments or Turnitin.

DDSS: Information for students who access - or are eligible to access - exam adjustments

DDSS: Yellow Stickers 

Your course may require you to submit handwritten work with equations or drawings through a Blackboard or Crowdmark assignment. This should be done as a PDF for Blackboard assignments. Crowdmark asssignments can accept images in JPG or PNG format as well as PDF. You should always check in the assignment information if a particular format is preferred.

Guidance for completing handwritten assignments

When setting out your work you should think about how you will capture it. Your tutor may give you guidance about how your work should be set out. A few general points to consider are:

• Paper should generally not be larger than A4 so your work will be large enough to read on screen

• Do not include any identifying information unless told to by your tutor

• Use a dark colour on a light background

• Use margins as indicated by your tutor

• Ensure that all working out is clear and in a logical order

• Label questions clearly with the question number

• If you have multiple pages, put page numbers at the top of each page so that you will be able to quickly check they are in the correct order

• Leave space between questions if you will need to take individual pictures or crop them

• Avoid starting a question at the bottom of a page where you will need to go on to another page

Scanning handwritten assignments to PDF

Some home printers will have a scanning function or the Microsoft Office Lens app can be used to create PDFs with a smartphone as shown below.

1. Download the app which is available on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

---

---

---

---

2. Choose or take a picture and use the cropping tool to select the relevant area.

---

---

---

---

3. Click add new in the bottom left hand corner to add more pages.

---

---

---

---

4. When you’ve finished scanning all of the pages click on the circle with the number on in the right hand corner. You will be given another chance to edit your work so you should check that everything has been included and that the writing is clear.

---

---

---

---

5. Save your work to your phone or tablet gallery. This will then need to be submitted to your course. To do this you can email the file to yourself or save it to your Google Drive so that you are able to access it on the device you use to access Blackboard.

---

---

---

---

6. Any work created by this method should be uploaded to a Blackboard Assignment on your course (not Turnitin).