Create and Upload an Assignment
(This may also be referred to as: Saving and Uploading a file to your student folder)

You may want to print these instructions before you begin.

The Basics of Creating
and Uploading an Assignment:

Creating and Uploading an Assignment in your Educator class environment is a process that involves three major steps:

  1. Creating (typing) a word processing document (based on assignment criteria supplied by your instructor),

  2. Saving that document on your personal computer (or disk—CD-ROM, Flash or Floppy Drive), and,

  3. Uploading the saved (completed assignment) document/file within the Educator class environment so that your instructor has access, can view, make comments, and grade the assignment.

  1. Creating A Word Processing Document

Currently the three most prevalent word processing software programs are Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, and Microsoft Works—there are many, many others. Using the word processing software program that you have and would normally use for typing a letter or paper, type your assignment. If you do not have a word processing program on your computer, it is recommended that you download and install OpenOffice. OpenOffice is a free sourceware product that contains various software programs: word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software—just to name a few. OpenOffice can be downloaded and installed (at no charge) from www.openoffice.org. The Distance Education staff also has a DE Resource Kit that contains OpenOffice among other applications (on CD-ROM) for those students who have dial-up Internet service. If you would like a copy of the DE Resource CD-ROM, please contact the DE Staff at (336)633-0263. For short and simple assignments, students can use the Wordpad program (accessible from the Start Menu, Programs, & Accessories).

Open your Word Processing Program and type your assignment according to the specific assignment requirements as listed by your instructor(s). It is recommended that you save the assignment document repeatedly as you are typing it to keep from losing your work by mistake, power-failure, etc.

  1. How to Save Your Assignment Document

II.a. Within Microsoft Word, Works, WordPerfect, or WordPad, click on “File” and then choose “Save As.” The “Save As” dialog box will appear. In the "Save in:" listbox, determine where to save the document.

Pay close attention to where you save your assignment document because you will need to find the document in order to upload it in within your online course. It is a good idea is to create a folder on your computer’s desktop for each of your online classes (or on your CD-ROM, floppy, or flash drive if you are using a public computer). Then you can easily save and find assignments for each course in the corresponding course folder.

II.b. Type a filename for your assignment in the “File Name” box in the “Save As” dialog box. Do not add spaces or special characters in naming your files. When naming your assignments it is important to remember that files uploaded in online classes can only contain letters and numbers—using the underscore as shown in parentheses here (_) is acceptable but other special characters, spaces or additional periods (.) are not.

It is a good idea to name your class files (documents) in a manner that identifies you and the assignment—such as: kennedyd_Assignment1 or kennedyd_HIS122_Assign1. The underscore (_) is acceptable but spaces or additional periods (.) are not. When you add additional periods in your assignment document(s), all letters typed after the period will be removed from the file name when saved.

II.c. Select the drop-down arrow to the right of the "Save as Type" listbox (in the “Save As” dialog box) to "Rich Text Format" (also known as RTF or rtf format) for all assignments UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR (see note below)*. This determines the file format as "rich-text" and gives the file a .rtf extension. If you do not understand extensions, do not worry; simply choose the rich-text format using the drop-down arrow to the right of “Save as Type” box.


* NOTE: IF your instructor has specifically instructed you to submit your files as a “Text” or “Word” document:
Save as TEXT
Select the drop-down arrow to the right of the "Save as Type" listbox (in the “Save As” dialog box) to "Plain Text" (also known as Text Only or txt format).
Save as Word Document
Select the drop-down arrow to the right of the "Save as Type" listbox (in the "Save As" dialog box) to "Word Document" (also known as dot doc {.doc) or doc or WRD format).


II.d. Click the “Save” button at the bottom right of the “Save As” dialog box.

Once your assignment has been typed and saved—you are ready to upload the file.

  1. Uploading & Submitting Your Assignment (File)

III.a. In your class environment (aka Educator), click on “Assignments,” on the left navigational bar. Choose (click on) the correct Assignment. When the assignment opens—scroll down until you see the “Optional File Upload” box. Click on the “Browse” button just to the right of the Optional File Upload area.

If “Assignments" is not an option on the navigational bar on the left SKIP TO STEP III.f.

III.b. A pop-up window entitled “File Upload” will appear.

III.c. In the “Look in” area at the top of the “File Upload” window, choose the area where you saved your document (this is where knowing where you saved the file on your computer will come in handy).

III.d. Click on the file name of the document that you have typed for the assignment been working on; then click “Open” (located at the bottom of the pop-up window entitled “File Upload”).

III.e. Make sure that the “Submit for Grading” checkbox is checked. Then click on the “Submit” button at the bottom of the Assignment window.

You’ve done it! You have created, uploaded and submitted your assignment! You can always call the Distance Education Office at (336)633-0231, 633-0263, or (336)633-0124 for assistance with uploading files. You can also email your instructor to confirm that he or she has received the submitted files.

III.f. How to Upload & Submit an Assignment When “Assignments” is not listed
in the Navigational Course Tools on the Left of the Screen

When “Assignments,” is not listed on the left navigational bar, you have to follow a different procedure for uploading your files:

III.f. Click on “Course Materials.”

III.g. Click on “My Folders,” a sub-menu that opens under “Course Materials.” Click on the folder that is labeled with your name. Select the “Upload to this Folder.” Click on the “Browse” button just to the right of the File Upload box.

A pop-up window entitled “File Upload” will appear.

III.c. In the “Look in” area at the top of the “File Upload” window, choose the area where you saved your document (this is where knowing where you saved the file on your computer will come in handy).

III.d. Click on the file name of the document that you have typed for the assignment been working on; then click “Open” (located at the bottom of the pop-up window entitled “File Upload”).

III.e. Click on the “Upload File” button.You will receive a quick “Submitted Thank You” message on your screen BUT YOU ARE NOT QUITE DONE YET. After the “Submitted Thank You” message appears briefly on the page, the page will refresh and File Upload “Options” box will appear. In the fourth item listed in the gray “Options” box, “Assignment Association” click on the blue down arrow and choose the appropriate assignment that you are are submitting. The click the “Submit for Grading” checkbox located right under the “Assignment Association” box. Then scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Submit.”