Homework has many benefits for students including learning how to work independently, staying organised and taking responsibility for their part in the educational process. It also gives them a chance to review the lesson and go over the material again.
Assignments give teachers the ability to track student progress and to see if the student understands the lesson content.
Microsoft’s Office 365 now provides another educational tool in their arsenal of productivity apps. Teams is a collaboration tool for your classes with the ability to have discussion threads, document sharing, class notebooks (see my previous post) and assignments.
In this post I’m going to focus on the assignment aspect of teams. You can follow the video guide or the blog post below, I hope this helps you get the most out of Microsoft Teams!
How to view assignments for your class
Inside your class, click on the “Assignments” tab to view a timeline of all the set assignments for this group.
You can select either a horizontal or vertical timeline view of the assignments using the view selector (highlighted yellow below).
How to create a new assignment
To start setting work for students, click the “New assignment” button.
You are then prompted to enter the details of the new assignment
- Assign to: Select which classes to assign to (you can set it to more than one of your classes here!)
- Title: This is the title of the assignment.
- Instructions: Include a description here to help the student complete the assignment.
- Due date and time: When the assignment becomes late (you have the option to allow late hand-in below)
- Late turn-in allowed: If this is enabled, students can still hand-in work after the due date. This is required if you are using class notebook pages.
- Points: Turn this on to allow a mark allocation. Currently these are only available as a number score.
Documents can be added from OneDrive, your computer or from the OneNote Class Notebook. We are hopeful that SharePoint and other class teams will be added to this soon! There are two options for attaching these resources.
Attach reference materials
These documents are for the student to view as part of the assignment. You might include a PowerPoint, links to useful websites, etc.
Specify what students will turn in
Documents uploaded in this section can be edited by the student and submitted back as part of the assignment. This is particularly useful for things like worksheets.
When you have finished the assignment, you can either save it as a draft or assign it to the class. As soon as this is assigned to the class, it will appear in their assignment timeline and they will get a notification on their team mobile and desktop apps.
How to review completed assignments
Use the review button to bring up the assignment timeline and assignment submissions.
Select the relevant assignment from the timeline to show the student work.
Each student has:
- Student work: Links to files that the student has returned.
- Date turned in: The date and time that the student submitted their assignment.
- Feedback: Some written feedback for the student.
- Points: If you have chosen to enable this in your assignment, you can give the student a grade.
Students will not be able to see your feedback or grade until the “Post” button is clicked.
Click the “Export to Excel” button to download a spreadsheet of the assignments.
The grades spreadsheet shows all the assignments set to this class over the school year. It optionally shows grades, if enabled per assignment. No more manual marksheets! You could use this data to import or fill in MIS marksheets quicker.
Mobile Apps
One of the best ways to engage with students both inside and outside of school using Teams is to encourage them to use the mobile app. Students get instant notifications of any mentions, homework or graded assignments.
Teams automation and customisation
Teams is free for schools, check you have the license enabled to start using it. At Cloud Design Box, we can provision teams from MIS data and create an engaging and simple dashboard to access team data in SharePoint. We can also create student folders inside team sites and extend the experience even further, making it easier and increasing student and teacher engagement. You can find out more information on our website https://clouddesignbox.co.uk/.
I’m looking for group assignments in Teams. This is not available (yet)? Do you know if this on the roadmap?
I’m looking for group assignments in Teams. This is not available (yet)? Do you know if this on the roadmap?
My students are unable to see the Assignments tab nor click and submit their assignments. What setting should be activated for this?
Hi Anandavadivelan,
Have you created your teams using the class team template or through SDS? You will need to do this as the assignment and class notebook tab are only available in the education version.
If you can see it but students can’t, ensure they have a Teams license assigned. If they do, I would recommend opening a support call with Microsoft in the O365 Admin Centre.
Hope that helps,
Tony
My students are unable to see the Assignments tab nor click and submit their assignments. What setting should be activated for this?
Hi Anandavadivelan,
Have you created your teams using the class team template or through SDS? You will need to do this as the assignment and class notebook tab are only available in the education version.
If you can see it but students can’t, ensure they have a Teams license assigned. If they do, I would recommend opening a support call with Microsoft in the O365 Admin Centre.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
We are desperately trying to find out if we can export the whole assignment scores (including the rubric). Do you know if that’s possible at all? So far we’re coming up with zip.
Any advice you can give we would fantastic!
Thank you
Hi Jo,
You can export the scores and comments using the export to excel button described in the post above. If you want to export the student submissions (if they are documents), you could dip into SharePoint and download the files as a zip (maybe this is what you are doing).
You can download Rubrics as CSV files allowing you to pass them to colleagues and reuse them in other assignments (using the import button).
The assignments/rubric/grades are designed to be reviewed online but you could print these out. They don’t come packaged on a per student basis, however it’s not a bad shout for a user voice entry: https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/599053-schools-and-universities
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
We are desperately trying to find out if we can export the whole assignment scores (including the rubric). Do you know if that’s possible at all? So far we’re coming up with zip.
Any advice you can give we would fantastic!
Thank you
Hi Jo,
You can export the scores and comments using the export to excel button described in the post above. If you want to export the student submissions (if they are documents), you could dip into SharePoint and download the files as a zip (maybe this is what you are doing).
You can download Rubrics as CSV files allowing you to pass them to colleagues and reuse them in other assignments (using the import button).
The assignments/rubric/grades are designed to be reviewed online but you could print these out. They don’t come packaged on a per student basis, however it’s not a bad shout for a user voice entry: https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/forums/599053-schools-and-universities
Hope that helps,
Tony
Is there a way for assignments set to pupils across a number of teams to be viewed in their own outlook calendar?
Hi Mark,
I don’t believe that is currently available but it might be in the pipeline. I would recommend adding it to
User Voice.
Thanks,
Tony
Is there a way for assignments set to pupils across a number of teams to be viewed in their own outlook calendar?
Hi Mark,
I don’t believe that is currently available but it might be in the pipeline. I would recommend adding it to
User Voice.
Thanks,
Tony
Hello, I have a question, I create a test in FORMS, add it to assignments and put due day etc….
But if I need to change test in the FORMS, correct some questions, is it possible to synchronise teams assignments and forms?
Thanks a lot
Hi Tetiana,
I believe that it takes a copy of the quiz for the assignment so you can’t edit it afterwards (otherwise student grades might change or be incomplete). The best solution would be to remove the assignment and create a new one with your corrections.
Thanks,
Tony
Hello, I have a question, I create a test in FORMS, add it to assignments and put due day etc….
But if I need to change test in the FORMS, correct some questions, is it possible to synchronise teams assignments and forms?
Thanks a lot
Hi Tetiana,
I believe that it takes a copy of the quiz for the assignment so you can’t edit it afterwards (otherwise student grades might change or be incomplete). The best solution would be to remove the assignment and create a new one with your corrections.
Thanks,
Tony
I need to add more than 5 resources but Teams won’t let me! How can I delete one resource to add another? Thank you.
I need to add more than 5 resources but Teams won’t let me! How can I delete one resource to add another? Thank you.
Yes you can delete resources by selecting the menu and choosing remove resource (see image link below):
https://clouddesignbox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/remove-resource.png
Yes you can delete resources by selecting the menu and choosing remove resource (see image link below):
https://clouddesignbox.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/remove-resource.png
Hi, I would like to set a time limit for an assignment, like a paper that may only be worked on for 60 minutes before it is automatically locked and submitted. Is this feasible?
Thank You
Yes you can set the due date for an hour in the future and turn off late hand in.
Hi, I would like to set a time limit for an assignment, like a paper that may only be worked on for 60 minutes before it is automatically locked and submitted. Is this feasible?
Thank You
Yes you can set the due date for an hour in the future and turn off late hand in.
How do find the timeline view of assignments I have set? The yellow highlighted area you show is not on my screen.
Hi Fiona,
I don’t believe the timeline view is available now. I think they make you select a class before you can see the assignment. It’s a real shame but i think the change is due to the high teams usage at the moment.
Thanks,
Tony
How do find the timeline view of assignments I have set? The yellow highlighted area you show is not on my screen.
Hi Fiona,
I don’t believe the timeline view is available now. I think they make you select a class before you can see the assignment. It’s a real shame but i think the change is due to the high teams usage at the moment.
Thanks,
Tony
I have the assignments tab but I do NOT have the button to assign/create or whatever for my class. Any remedy for this? I am an educator and using my school email and everything for this.
Hi Deric,
You should ensure you are listed in Teams as the class teacher. If you cannot still see it then it would be worth logging a support ticket with Microsoft: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Tahnks,
Tony
I have the assignments tab but I do NOT have the button to assign/create or whatever for my class. Any remedy for this? I am an educator and using my school email and everything for this.
Hi Deric,
You should ensure you are listed in Teams as the class teacher. If you cannot still see it then it would be worth logging a support ticket with Microsoft: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Tahnks,
Tony
Is there an easy way to turn off assignment notifications? Every time I change an assignment there is a notification sent out. Can I turn that off?
Hi Al,
I believe it would be up to individual users to turn off notifications on assignments. You can save your assignments as drafts and then publish it to your students when it’s ready, that might help?
Thanks,
Tony
Is there an easy way to turn off assignment notifications? Every time I change an assignment there is a notification sent out. Can I turn that off?
Hi Al,
I believe it would be up to individual users to turn off notifications on assignments. You can save your assignments as drafts and then publish it to your students when it’s ready, that might help?
Thanks,
Tony
I saved an assignment as a draft. How can I activate it as an assign?
Hi Sandor,
Yes you can save your assignments as drafts and then come back later and publish them. To do this, you just go back to the assignment tab, expand out drafts, select the draft assignment and click “Publish”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your help. The problem is that ‘select the draft assignment and click �Publish� ‘ there is no “Publish”, at least I cannot find. I use the desktop version (official version at my university) on Windows10. Here is the snapshot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fUTGq2-nl8cxVl8oOob4CkjE5LKUR6lR/view?usp=sharing
Sandor
I can see that from your screenshot the assignment is set to be scheduled. This is not a draft assignment.
To remove your schedule click the “Edit” button at the bottom of your screenshot. That assignment is set to be auto published on the 1st April because this is the date you scheduled it for.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your suggestion.
I share an other snapshot https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Pdjr09pnwdEoqkk7KEKRVXrpWm6lZnd/view?usp=sharing
It seems to me, that the assignment is in Draft.
The classical question, it is a bug or a feature?
Best regards,
Sandor
It’s a draft while it’s scheduled (in your case) but after 1st April it will change.
I saved an assignment as a draft. How can I activate it as an assign?
Hi Sandor,
Yes you can save your assignments as drafts and then come back later and publish them. To do this, you just go back to the assignment tab, expand out drafts, select the draft assignment and click “Publish”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your help. The problem is that ‘select the draft assignment and click �Publish� ‘ there is no “Publish”, at least I cannot find. I use the desktop version (official version at my university) on Windows10. Here is the snapshot
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fUTGq2-nl8cxVl8oOob4CkjE5LKUR6lR/view?usp=sharing
Sandor
I can see that from your screenshot the assignment is set to be scheduled. This is not a draft assignment.
To remove your schedule click the “Edit” button at the bottom of your screenshot. That assignment is set to be auto published on the 1st April because this is the date you scheduled it for.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thanks for your suggestion.
I share an other snapshot https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Pdjr09pnwdEoqkk7KEKRVXrpWm6lZnd/view?usp=sharing
It seems to me, that the assignment is in Draft.
The classical question, it is a bug or a feature?
Best regards,
Sandor
It’s a draft while it’s scheduled (in your case) but after 1st April it will change.
Hi Tony ,
We are trying to set an assignment for a class of more than 200 individuals, all in one class. We are however receiving a pop-up message saying that we cannot set an assignment for a class of more than 200. Is there a way that we can change this limit?
No, Microsoft recommend no more than 50 for a class size (that’s not official just what I have been told). It would really struggle to copy an assignment for 200 individuals, I also think the notebook would fail to load with that many sections. Ideally class teams should be class sized as they would be in school (that is how it was designed). You can always add multiple teachers to classes and you can assign work to multiple classes (not sure if this would work any better).
Thanks,
Tony
Hi Tony ,
We are trying to set an assignment for a class of more than 200 individuals, all in one class. We are however receiving a pop-up message saying that we cannot set an assignment for a class of more than 200. Is there a way that we can change this limit?
No, Microsoft recommend no more than 50 for a class size (that’s not official just what I have been told). It would really struggle to copy an assignment for 200 individuals, I also think the notebook would fail to load with that many sections. Ideally class teams should be class sized as they would be in school (that is how it was designed). You can always add multiple teachers to classes and you can assign work to multiple classes (not sure if this would work any better).
Thanks,
Tony
As a language teacher, I need to review and edit student�s work directly in their submitted document, not only provide feedback and grade their work. I click on edit the work in browser, then on review and I correct and edit what is needed. When I am done and return the work to students,they say they can�t see my changes in their work – only the feedback and grades.Is there a way for them to see the changes I have made to their work?
Hi Deesi,
I’ve just tested this and it is working fine for me. Have you returned the document back to them? They can only see your changes once you have done that.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi, thank you, I have returned their work back to them, yet a significant part of them maintain they can�t see any changes, while some say they can, so I can�t work out if it is me doing something wrong or them.
I would recommend logging a support ticket with the Microsoft education team. You will need some screenshots and examples to show them what is happening: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Did you get anywhere with this? We are having the same problem.
As a language teacher, I need to review and edit student�s work directly in their submitted document, not only provide feedback and grade their work. I click on edit the work in browser, then on review and I correct and edit what is needed. When I am done and return the work to students,they say they can�t see my changes in their work – only the feedback and grades.Is there a way for them to see the changes I have made to their work?
Hi Deesi,
I’ve just tested this and it is working fine for me. Have you returned the document back to them? They can only see your changes once you have done that.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi, thank you, I have returned their work back to them, yet a significant part of them maintain they can�t see any changes, while some say they can, so I can�t work out if it is me doing something wrong or them.
I would recommend logging a support ticket with the Microsoft education team. You will need some screenshots and examples to show them what is happening: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Did you get anywhere with this? We are having the same problem.
Your assignment view looks completly different then mine (or my studentes) I can not see a calender view like you show above. I just see a list and a filter button. any advice?
Hi Valerie,
I wrote this blog post 2 years ago. However, the assignment view has only recently changed. Due to the large number of teachers and students onboarding because of COVID-19, Microsoft have had to scale back some of the services including the timeline view. Hopefully this is a temporary change.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi Tony, Thank you for your answer, however I do use Teams for over a year now and the view was never different. They probably already changed it earlier because of resources. Hope they bring it back one day. Thank you!
Hi Valerie,
I wrote this blog post 2 years ago. However, the assignment view has only recently changed. Due to the large number of teachers and students onboarding because of COVID-19, Microsoft have had to scale back some of the services including the timeline view. Hopefully this is a temporary change.
Thanks,
Tony
Yes lets hope, it was much better for users. Good luck with using teams in in your classroom!
Your assignment view looks completly different then mine (or my studentes) I can not see a calender view like you show above. I just see a list and a filter button. any advice?
Hi Valerie,
I wrote this blog post 2 years ago. However, the assignment view has only recently changed. Due to the large number of teachers and students onboarding because of COVID-19, Microsoft have had to scale back some of the services including the timeline view. Hopefully this is a temporary change.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi Tony, Thank you for your answer, however I do use Teams for over a year now and the view was never different. They probably already changed it earlier because of resources. Hope they bring it back one day. Thank you!
Hi Valerie,
I wrote this blog post 2 years ago. However, the assignment view has only recently changed. Due to the large number of teachers and students onboarding because of COVID-19, Microsoft have had to scale back some of the services including the timeline view. Hopefully this is a temporary change.
Thanks,
Tony
Yes lets hope, it was much better for users. Good luck with using teams in in your classroom!
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your blog. I have a question:
Your assignment view looks completly different then mine (or my students) I can not see a calender view like you show above. I just see a list and a filter button. any advice?
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your blog. I have a question:
Your assignment view looks completly different then mine (or my students) I can not see a calender view like you show above. I just see a list and a filter button. any advice?
A team does not appear in ‘assign to’ drop down when creating an assignment. The team has been created but is not visible.
I would recommend opening a support ticket with the education team: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Thanks,
Tony
A team does not appear in ‘assign to’ drop down when creating an assignment. The team has been created but is not visible.
I would recommend opening a support ticket with the education team: https://aka.ms/edusupport
Thanks,
Tony
I created an assignment in Forms for my students, it is a log for the week for the activities they are doing. My question is, if they go in on Monday and enter their activities for Monday, will it automatically save what they’ve entered? I need them to be able to go to the assignment each evening and enter their activities for the day, but do not want it turned in until Friday evening. Does that make sense?
Hi Hope,
Yes they can save their progress without submitting the assignment. As soon as they hand-in the assignment, they can no longer edit it.
Thanks,
Tony
I created an assignment in Forms for my students, it is a log for the week for the activities they are doing. My question is, if they go in on Monday and enter their activities for Monday, will it automatically save what they’ve entered? I need them to be able to go to the assignment each evening and enter their activities for the day, but do not want it turned in until Friday evening. Does that make sense?
Hi Hope,
Yes they can save their progress without submitting the assignment. As soon as they hand-in the assignment, they can no longer edit it.
Thanks,
Tony
I viewed your video about 4 times to make sure I was getting it right. However, the screen that comes up when i am preparing the assignment does not bring up the option to add the worksheet for the students to complete and submit. Can I get some help with this. I want to be able to give the option to my students. Can you help me with this? I am based in the US.
Hi Ena,
The only thing that has changed recently is when you attach documents to assignments they are now read-only by default and you need to click the menu at the right of the attached document to “Students edit their own copy”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
I viewed your video about 4 times to make sure I was getting it right. However, the screen that comes up when i am preparing the assignment does not bring up the option to add the worksheet for the students to complete and submit. Can I get some help with this. I want to be able to give the option to my students. Can you help me with this? I am based in the US.
Hi Ena,
The only thing that has changed recently is when you attach documents to assignments they are now read-only by default and you need to click the menu at the right of the attached document to “Students edit their own copy”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi,
I gave my class a Survey created in Forms which they completed, submitted, I reviewed (and added comments to) and returned. It is in their completed assignments but they can’t open it to see it. They keep getting the message that they can only complete the survey once – but I just want them to view the completed one.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Pam
Hi Pam,
I have seen this happen at another school this week. I would recommend opening a support ticket with Microsoft education team: https://aka.ms/edusupport.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi,
I gave my class a Survey created in Forms which they completed, submitted, I reviewed (and added comments to) and returned. It is in their completed assignments but they can’t open it to see it. They keep getting the message that they can only complete the survey once – but I just want them to view the completed one.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Pam
Hi Pam,
I have seen this happen at another school this week. I would recommend opening a support ticket with Microsoft education team: https://aka.ms/edusupport.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi, I was wondering how to assign a worksheet that students can complete and send back. My assignment page doesn’t look like yours. when I click on assignment I have a create button, when it opens I have the same features as you but the option to specify what students can hand in is missing, any idea? thank
Hi Cathy,
The only thing that has changed recently is when you attach documents to assignments they are now read-only by default and you need to click the menu at the right of the attached document to “Students edit their own copy”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi, I was wondering how to assign a worksheet that students can complete and send back. My assignment page doesn’t look like yours. when I click on assignment I have a create button, when it opens I have the same features as you but the option to specify what students can hand in is missing, any idea? thank
Hi Cathy,
The only thing that has changed recently is when you attach documents to assignments they are now read-only by default and you need to click the menu at the right of the attached document to “Students edit their own copy”.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your helpful blog. I have been able to set assignment, leave feedback on their documents and return it to them with feedback – great! Now though, is there anyway that I can ask them to resubmit incomplete/substandard work. Basically I�d like to reassign the task to a small number of the team.
Thanks!
Dee
Hi Dee,
Any work that you return back to the student can be handed in again before the close date. It will still appear for them under “Completed” but if they select the assignment they will see the option to “hand in again”. For the students you want to make aware of this, you could always @ them in the conversation thread so they are aware of the incomplete work.
Thanks,
Tony
Hi Tony,
Thank you for your helpful blog. I have been able to set assignment, leave feedback on their documents and return it to them with feedback – great! Now though, is there anyway that I can ask them to resubmit incomplete/substandard work. Basically I�d like to reassign the task to a small number of the team.
Thanks!
Dee
Hi Dee,
Any work that you return back to the student can be handed in again before the close date. It will still appear for them under “Completed” but if they select the assignment they will see the option to “hand in again”. For the students you want to make aware of this, you could always @ them in the conversation thread so they are aware of the incomplete work.
Thanks,
Tony
I want a quiz to show up in Assignments in advance, (not just as an announcement in Posts) but I don’t want the students to be able to see the actual quiz until the scheduled time for them to take the quiz. How can I do this?
Hi Stephania,
You can schedule your assignment to publish in the future. That way you can set up the assignment ready, but students won’t see it until the scheduled date.
Hope that helps,
Tony
I want a quiz to show up in Assignments in advance, (not just as an announcement in Posts) but I don’t want the students to be able to see the actual quiz until the scheduled time for them to take the quiz. How can I do this?
Hi Stephania,
You can schedule your assignment to publish in the future. That way you can set up the assignment ready, but students won’t see it until the scheduled date.
Hope that helps,
Tony
Can I make sub folder in assignment folder according to chapter
Hi Ghazala,
I’m not quite sure what you mean, can you post a screenshot?
Thanks,
Tony
Can I make sub folder in assignment folder according to chapter
Hi Ghazala,
I’m not quite sure what you mean, can you post a screenshot?
Thanks,
Tony
Hi Tony, before the break I believe I was able to edit the points field (available points) on an already published assignment, with submissions turned in. Now I desperately tried to do the same thing again (forgot to mention the points when I assigned it, alas, so “No points” once again) but I find absolutely no way to edit this now ‘in retrospect’, am I missing something? It’s not a show-stopper since I will just give them the points on the feedback, but it’s not nice.
Maybe they have made a change, best to ask the Microsoft product manager Justin on twitter https://twitter.com/justinchando. I know they have had to make some changes to allow for the large increase in usage during COVID-19.
Hi Tony, before the break I believe I was able to edit the points field (available points) on an already published assignment, with submissions turned in. Now I desperately tried to do the same thing again (forgot to mention the points when I assigned it, alas, so “No points” once again) but I find absolutely no way to edit this now ‘in retrospect’, am I missing something? It’s not a show-stopper since I will just give them the points on the feedback, but it’s not nice.
Maybe they have made a change, best to ask the Microsoft product manager Justin on twitter https://twitter.com/justinchando. I know they have had to make some changes to allow for the large increase in usage during COVID-19.