What is the Annotation Tool ?
By default this feature is turned on however instructors can alter this via the assignment settings.
The Annotation Tool is an Assignment feature that allows instructors to add detailed online and inline feedback for student file submissions. The Annotation toolbar is accessible in the document viewer page appearing across the top of the document. Features of the Annotation tool include highlighting, striking through, and underlining, as well draw free hand, add text and notes. The Annotation Tools aim to mimic a similar experience to grading assignments by hand. By default the Annotation tool is turned on, however instructors can choose to turn it off at any time by unchecking this box in the Assignment settings.
Turn off the Annotation Tool (optional)
Go to Assignments Tool select the chevron on the assignment you wish to edit. Select the Edit Assignment option.
In the settings under Evaluation & Feedback uncheck the Annotation Tool and select Save and Close to enact the change.
Annotation Tool List and Functions
Sidebar Navigation View
Choose from three sidebar options — Thumbnails, Outline, or Bookmarks — to alter the overview view of the document content.
Page Navigation
Use the Page Navigation tool to quickly browser and locate specific pages within the document.
Page Layout (Cog)
Select this button to alter the Page Mode, Page Transitions and Page Rotation.
Pan Mode (Hand Icon)
Use this feature to use your mouse to move the document in the annotation tool.
Zoom out and Zoom In (magnifying glasses)
Use these buttons to zoom in and out in the document.
Document Width
Alternate between “Fit Page” or “Fit Width” page view options
Pencil Icon
Use this feature to add dynamic feedback, via drawing, and highlighting.
Notes
Add text notes to the document anywhere. Also move, resize and change the appearance of the notes.
Text
Use this feature to configure the annotation tool text settings, including fonts, size and colors.
Line
Add lines to the document.
Undo and Redo Buttons
Undo or redo the last edit made.
Print the document
Search
Search document using keywords
Download
Download document to device
Expand
Expand document and annotation tool to full Browser View
Using the Annotation Features
To access the annotation toolbar on an assignment:
On assignment submission page, click on a student’s assignment.
If there are multiple files, select a file to grade. When the page loads the annotation tool bar will automatically load on the document viewer page.
Choose one of the many options to leave inline contextual feedback for students.
Select the Pencil Icon to
Draw Freehand - Draw anywhere on a document. Move and resize, and change appearance — including color, thickness, and opacity.
Text Highlighting- Easily mark up text on a document via an intuitive highlight menu with support for highlighting, strikethrough, and underlining.
Select the Text Icon to add Text Annotations
Add text anywhere on a document. Move and resize, and change appearance — including font, size, alignment, and color.
Select the Note Icon to add Collapsible Notes
Add longer comments, which can be collapsed or expanded, to a document. Change appearance with a variety of shapes and colors.
Sharing Feedback with Students
Be sure to save the edits and the grade. Once the assignment feedback has been published to all students all feedback added via the annotation tool will be visible via the assignment tool.
For a video guide, please see Assignments - Grade Submissions in Assignments - Instructor
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