Set Availability and Due Dates for an Assignment

Instructors have the option to hide assignment folders from students. If you select the Hide from Users checkbox, the assignment will not be visible from content pages or on the Assignment folders list page. You can also limit access to an assignment by setting availability dates on the Restrictions tab.

  1. Click Course Activities on the navbar and choose Assignments.
  2. Click on New Folder, or click on the context menu of any assignment and choose Edit Folder.
  3. Click the Restrictions tab.
  4. If you want to hide the folder completely, check Hide from Users.
  5. In the Availability section, set the assignment folder's Start Date, Due Date, and End Date.
  6. Click Save and Close.

Indicates Restrictions tab. Identifies Hide From Users option on Assignment Restrictions tab

  • The Start Date is the date that the assignment opens for students to submit.
  • The Due Date is the date you want the assignment to be due, but the folder will still accept submissions after the due date (these submissions will be flagged as late).
  • The End Date is the date that the assignment closes and will no longer accept submissions. You can set an End Date without a Due Date if you do not want to receive late submissions.


Set release conditions for an assignment folder

Release conditions allow you to associate an assignment folder with other items in D2L. For example, you can require that students meet some criteria, such as visiting a set of lecture notes in the Content tool, before they can submit their work to an assignment folder. Alternately, you can make submission to the assignment folder a criteria for accessing another item, such as a quiz.

  1. On the New Folder or Edit Folder page, click on the "Restrictions" tab.
  2. In the Release Conditions section, click either Attach Existing or Create and Attach.
    Shows Release Conditions options.
  3. If creating a new condition, select a Condition Type and specify the Condition Details, then click on Create.
    Shows the Create a New Release Condition dialog window.
  4. If you are attaching an existing condition, choose the condition that you want to apply. You may attach more than one condition.
  5. Select from the drop-down list if All conditions must be met or leave the default, Any condition must be met.
    Identifies choice selection for All conditions must be met. 
  6. Click Save and Close

Best practices for creating release conditions

  • Set up conditions before students access the course
  • Avoid unnecessary conditions
  • Avoid circular references
  • Avoid impossible conditions
  • Avoid contradictory conditions
  • Release content based on learning ability and course performance
  • Release content in stages
  • Release content based on enrollment date
  • Customize content for groups within a course
  • Use a checklist to organize activities
  • Use intelligent agents to monitor student activity or non-activity

See Release Conditions for more information.