Annotating Moodle Assignment Files

Annotating Assignment Files Using Built-In Moodle Annotation

Instructors can use the built-in annotation tools in Moodle Assignments to mark up files submitted by students.

  1. Log in to Moodle and select the appropriate course.
  2. Go to the Moodle Assignment you want to grade with annotations and click the [Grade] button.
  3. Add the annotations, assign a grade, and if applicable, any feedback or feedback files. Click the [Save changes] or [Save and show next] button when complete.

Annotating Assignment Files Using Notability

To use something beyond the built-in annotation tools, many find Notability on an iPad to be an intuitive way to annotate assignment submissions.

Downloading the files from Moodle

  1. On your iPad, log in to Moodle using Safari.
  2. Go to the Moodle Assignment you want to add annotations to and click the Submissions link.
  3. Be sure “Download submission in folders” is unchecked.
  4. Click the [Actions] button and click Download all submissions from the drop-down menu.

Importing files into Notability

Unzipping the downloaded file

  1. Open the Files app on your iPad.
  2. You should see a “Downloads” folder, likely under the “Favorites” section on the left.
  3. Click the zip file that was just downloaded. This will unzip it.

Importing the files into Notability

  1. Open Notability, and click the Folder where you want the files imported. You don’t have import assignments into a Folder, but if you’re going to annotate a lot using this method, creating a new folder for each of your courses will help with organization.
  2. Hold down the +New button to reveal a menu. Click “Import” and then “Files.”
  3. Click the “Downloads” folder and select the folder that was just created.
  4. Select one file by clicking it, and then “Select All” in the lower-left. Click “Open” from the upper-right.
  5. Choose “Create Separate Notes” and then select “Import.”
  6. Annotate the files in Notability as you see fit.

Exporting, preparing, and uploading files to Moodle

DO NOT CHANGE THE FILE NAMES. Doing so will prevent the assignments from merging correctly back into the assignment.

Exporting Notability files as PDF

  1. While looking at the list of annotated assignments, click the ellipse in a circle icon and choose “Select Notes.”
  2. Check the annotated assignments you wish to convert to PDF or click “Select All” in the lower-left.
  3. Click “Export” from the bottom of the screen, ensure the “File Format” is set to “PDF,” then click “Export.”
  4. Scroll the following menu and select “Save to Files.” Choose the preferred location in Files to save your annotated file and click “Save.”

Creating a zip file of the exported PDFs

  1. Open the Files app on your iPad.
  2. Click the “Select” button in the upper-right and select the files you wish to upload back to Moodle.
  3. Click the “More” button in the bottom-right and choose “Compress.” This will zip the files into one file with a default name of Archive.zip.

Uploading the zipped file to the Moodle Assignment

  1. Return to Moodle in Safari, navigate to the Assignment, and click the Submissions link
  2. Click the [Actions] button and click Upload feedback files in a zip from the drop-down menu.
  3. If you don’t see Upload feedback files in a zip, then click Settings in the Assignment to ensure “Feedback files” is checked under Feedback types.)
  4. Click the “Choose a file…” button, then click “Choose File.”From there, navigate to the folder where you created the zip file–remember, it’s default name is Archive.zip.
  5. Click the “Upload this file” button and then click “Import feedback file(s).” Click “Confirm” and then “Continue.”
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