Assign assets using the options menu

Updated 19 Feb 2024

There are multiple ways to assign assets to students. This topic explains how to assign assets (with or without a due date) using the options menu. You can use this method even if you do not have a course calendar. You can also assign materials without due dates. Another way to assign assets with a due date is to add them to the calendar.

You can only assign assets that are visible to your students. If the asset or folder is currently hidden, click Yes at the prompt that asks whether you want to display and assign it.

  1. Click Course Materials > Manage Course Materials or Course Materials > Manage Course Materials.
  2. Locate and point to the asset you want to assign.
  3. Select Properties or Assignment Properties from the options menu.
  4. In the Assign section, select Assigned.
  5. Select Assign with a due date.
  6. Click the date in the calendar on which you want to make the asset due, or type the date directly in the Due Date field.
  7. Enter the due time in hours and minutes (HH:MM). By default, assets are due at 11:59 PM on the due date. You can specify a different default due time on the course Preferences > General page.
  8. Set any additional properties for the asset:
  9. Click Save. The due icon appears next to the assignment.

If students do not complete an assignment by the due date and time, the assignment is reported as past due. Past due assignments receive a grade of zero, or, if you enable grace period options, the appropriate deduction is taken when the student submits the late assignment. For details on setting grace periods, see Set preferences for an activity.

  1. Click Course Materials > Manage Course Materials.
  2. Locate and point to the asset you want to assign.
  3. Select Properties from the options menu.
  4. In the Assign section, select Assigned.
  5. Clear the Assign with a due date option.
  6. Set any additional properties for the asset:
    • To restrict the assignment to certain machines, see Control which computers can access assignments. (MyLab Languages only)
    • To have the assignment open in a pop-up window, open full screen, or require a password, see Set assignment and asset properties.(MyLab Languages)
  7. Click Save. A checkmark appears next to the asset to indicate that it is assigned but doesn't have a due date.

Assign folders

Hidden assets are not visible to students. If a folder or one or more assets in the folder are marked as hidden, those hidden assets are changed to shown automatically so that you can continue to assign them to students.

When MyLab Languages instructors assign a folder, assets in the folder are assigned. However, because a folder can contain a variety of assets, there are a few rules to keep in mind.

  • "Instructor only" assets: Assets marked as instructor only are never visible to students. (MyLab Languages)
    • If a folder is marked as instructor only, you are not able to assign the folder unless you change the folder properties on the Course Materials > Add from Library page.
    • If the folder contains both student assets and assets marked as instructor only, you can assign the student assets in the folder, but the assets marked as instructor only are not assigned or visible to students.
    • If all assets in the folder are marked as instructor only, you can assign the folder, but it appears empty to students because assets marked as instructor only are not visible to students.