DirectSubmit generates SafeAssign reports on papers submitted outside of a Blackboard assignment with SafeAssign enabled. DirectSubmit is also used to add papers to the institutional database. DirectSubmit is not integrated with the Grade Center. Blackboard advises using Assignments instead of DirectSumit to collect submissions whenever possible.
You can submit single papers using DirectSubmit or submit multiple papers in a ZIP file. Include no more than 100 papers in a ZIP file. DirectSubmit cannot process more than 300 papers in one session. DirectSubmit also cannot process papers that are larger than 10 MB.
Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use SafeAssign DirectSubmit
- On the instructor Control Panel, expand the Course Tools section. Select SafeAssign.
- Click DirectSubmit.
- A list of folders and papers appears. This list includes papers already uploaded through DirectSubmit. Blackboard recommends that files not be deleted from DirectSubmit because this deletes them from the institutional database of existing materials. Either navigate to a certain desired folder or click Submit A Paper.
- Select the upload options:
- Submit as Draft: A SafeAssign report is generated, but the paper is not added to the institutional database and is not used to check other papers.
- Skip Plagiarism Checking: Adds the papers to the institutional database without checking for content copied from other sources. Use this option to upload papers from an earlier course to ensure that current students are not reusing work
- Select Upload File and browse for the files. Individual papers, as well as papers that are grouped in a ZIP file, are accepted. Alternatively, select Copy/Paste Document and add the document text in the field.
- Click Submit.
It will take some time for SafeAssign to process the paper(s), especially if multiple files were included. Check back on the DirectSubmit page to see if the report is available:
Shared Folders and Private Folders
DirectSubmit shared folders are viewable by anyone with access to the DirectSubmit tool through your course. Multiple instructors and teaching assistants can view submissions related to a course in shared folders. You can use private folders to manage papers. Your private folders follow you and are available in any course where you have instructor-level privileges.
Supported File Types
DirectSubmit supports the following file types:
- Microsoft Word document (DOC, DOCX)
- Rich Text Format (RTF)
- HTML (HTM, HTML)
- Text (TXT)
- Zip-compressed multiple files (ZIP)
- Portable document format (PDF)
- Open document format (ODT)
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