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Assignments are a core assessment tool in Lena. You can create assignments with different submission types, attach reference materials, and set due dates for your students.
Before you begin: You need a published or draft course. See Creating a Course if you haven’t created one yet.

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Creating a new assignment

1

Open your course

Navigate to the course and go to the Assignments section. You’ll see any existing assignments listed here.
2

Tap 'Create Assignment'

Start building your assignment. The assignment creation form appears.
Assignment creation form with fields for title, instructions, due date, and total marksAssignment creation form with fields for title, instructions, due date, and total marks

Screenshot: Create assignment form

3

Fill in the details

4

Choose the assignment type

Select whether this is an online or physical assignment (see below).
5

Configure submission type

For online assignments, choose how students submit their work (see below).
6

Attach files (optional)

Upload reference materials, question sheets, or templates that students need for the assignment.
7

Save or publish

Save as draft to continue editing later, or publish to make it visible to students immediately. A confirmation appears, and the assignment is added to your course’s assignment list.

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Assignment types

Students submit their work through the Lena app. You’ll receive their submissions digitally and can grade them within the platform.This is the most common type — ideal for essays, reports, problem sets, and any work students can submit as text or files.

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Submission types (for online assignments)

Choose how students can submit their work:
Use text submissions for short-answer questions and essays. Use file submissions for work that involves diagrams, handwritten solutions, or formatted documents. Use both when you want flexibility.

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Attaching files

You can attach files to help students complete the assignment:
  • Question sheets or problem sets
  • Templates or rubrics
  • Reference materials or reading assignments
  • Sample work or examples
Students can view and download these attachments when they open the assignment.

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After publishing

Once an assignment is published:
  • It appears in students’ Assignments tab under “Due”
  • Students receive a notification (if enabled)
  • The due date appears on students’ dashboards

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Editing after publishing

You can still edit the assignment after publishing — update the instructions, change the due date, or modify the total marks. Changes take effect immediately.
If students have already started working on the assignment, be cautious about changing the due date or total marks. Communicate any changes to your students.

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Tips for effective assignments

  • Write clear instructions — Include what you expect, the format, and any specific requirements
  • Set realistic deadlines — Give students enough time while keeping them accountable
  • Attach resources — Provide templates or reference materials so students know exactly what’s expected
  • Use descriptive titles — “Week 5 Essay: Causes of the Civil War” is more helpful than “Assignment 5”

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Troubleshooting

  • Check that the assignment is published, not still in draft - Verify that students are enrolled in the course - If you set a due date in the past, students may see it under their completed/past section
  • Check your internet connection - Try a different file format or a smaller file - Make sure the file isn’t corrupted — try opening it on your device first