> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.lena.africa/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Assignments

> How to create assignments on Lena — choose types, set submission options, attach files, configure deadlines, and set marks.

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.

<Note>
  **Before you begin:** You need a published or draft course. See [Creating a
  Course](/teachers/creating-a-course) if you haven't created one yet.
</Note>

***

## Creating a new assignment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your course">
    Navigate to the course and go to the **Assignments** section. You'll see any existing assignments listed here.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap 'Create Assignment'">
    Start building your assignment. The assignment creation form appears.

    <Frame caption="Screenshot: Create assignment form">
      <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=8aa659c894fa0cbcd69dca2937f31d5d" alt="Assignment creation form with fields for title, instructions, due date, and total marks" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-light.png" />

      <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/lenaafrica/ISsABwDXCBX0o69d/images/placeholder-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ISsABwDXCBX0o69d&q=85&s=d8ebf01c18a25cc2bcf05b022a7d47a1" alt="Assignment creation form with fields for title, instructions, due date, and total marks" width="1600" height="938" data-path="images/placeholder-dark.png" />
    </Frame>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the details">
    | Field            | Description                                                                              |
    | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
    | **Title**        | A clear name for the assignment (e.g., "Week 3 Essay", "Lab Report 2")                   |
    | **Instructions** | Detailed instructions for students — what they need to do, formatting requirements, etc. |
    | **Due date**     | The submission deadline (date and time)                                                  |
    | **Total marks**  | Maximum points for this assignment                                                       |
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the assignment type">
    Select whether this is an **online** or **physical** assignment (see below).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure submission type">
    For online assignments, choose how students submit their work (see below).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Attach files (optional)">
    Upload reference materials, question sheets, or templates that students need for the assignment.
  </Step>

  <Step title="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.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Assignment types

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Online assignments">
    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.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Physical assignments">
    Students hand in their work **in person** (e.g., printed reports, lab books, physical projects). You record the grades on Lena after grading them manually.

    Use this for work that can't be submitted digitally — science lab reports, art projects, handwriting exercises, etc.

    <Note>Physical assignments still appear in students' assignment lists so they know the deadline and instructions. They just don't have a digital submission option.</Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Submission types (for online assignments)

Choose how students can submit their work:

| Submission type | What students can submit                                                                                           |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Text**        | Students type their answer directly in a markdown (a simple text formatting syntax) editor with formatting support |
| **File**        | Students upload a file (PDF, document, image, etc.)                                                                |
| **Both**        | Students can submit text, a file, or both                                                                          |

<Tip>
  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.
</Tip>

***

## 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.

***

## 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**

### 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.

<Warning>
  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.
</Warning>

***

## 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"

***

## Troubleshooting

<Accordion title="Students can't see the assignment">
  * 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
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="File attachment won't upload">
  * 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
</Accordion>

***

## Related guides

* [Grading Assignments](/teachers/grading-assignments) — grade student
  submissions and give feedback
* [Grades Overview](/teachers/grades-overview) — view overall class performance
* [Submitting Assignments (Student View)](/students/submitting-assignments) —
  see what students experience