An assignment consists of a file or directory on the class server, and an entry into the courseResources database. The specific settings for a class are contained in the classConfig file.

				For now: you must edit the classConfig file by hand. By Spring quarter a point and click interface will be available. To edit the configuration file by hand, log into your course, go to the Manager, do "Operations-->Grade Entry" and when the module opens, click on the "Edit Assignments" button. Use the dropdown menu labeled "Choose file to edit" and select "classConfig".  Be careful editing this file, as you can really screw up the class configuration.

				Typical assignment entry line: <assigName>,<dbRec>,<dueDate>,<Pnts>,<GdCat>,<LatePen>,<howGraded>,<maxTries>,<showInHWList>,<assigType>,<dueTime>,<comments> e.g: Plate Tectonics CPR Paper,10,Week: 4-Mon*,20,WR,,manual,,true,CPR,16:00 Parameter definitions: assigName: Name that shows in the assignment list dbRec: record number of assignment is courseResources db table (don't change this) dueDate: Week: 4-Mon* means that the assignment is due on Monday of week 4 at the dueTime specified in the dueTime field. Also: the * character means that the time is an absolute time. To set the time relative to the lab section start, for week 4,  you would use: Week: 4 only. EarthEd computes the due time from the lab section times specified in the configuration file. Pnts: points for this assignment. GcCat: grade category. The configuration file allows categories to be specified that the assignments fall within. For example, HW might mean homework, WR might mean writing. This allows you to set a certain percentage of the class grade for each category. LatePen:  penalty for late assignments. no entry means standard penalties, NP means no penalty, NP: ##h means no penalty for ## hours. e.g. NP: 345h means the penalties don't start until 345 hours after the specified due time. Students pay attention to the "due time" but this allows you to delay penalties. Standard penalties: up to one week late, 10% off the portion of the assignment worked after 1 week, up to 2 weeks late: 20%, after 2 weeks late: 50%. howGraded: the choices are: auto, manual, or none. auto means the computer does the grading, manual means the TA or Prof enters the grade, and none means there is no grade for the assignment line. maxTries: auto graded assignments can often be worked many times. This begins to give penalties after maxTries tries is exceeded. The maximum possible score is reduced by 1% for every try that exceeds maxTries. This discourages guessing. showInHWList: set "true" if you want the assignment to show in the homework list that students see. This is for assignments that are graded, but there is no online component for the student to work. The final exam is an example. assigType: type of assignment. Possible types are; HW, homework; AL, alarm; QUIZ, quiz of random problems from database; RDG, reading assignment; WR, writing; CPR, calibrated peer review. dueTime: actual time the assignment is due, on the due date. e.g. 23:59 would make the assignment due 1 minute before midnight. Use a 24 hr time scale. comments: this field is used only for AL type assignments. The comments field is displayed in a dialog box. Use it to remind students of assignments that will be worked outside of the EarthEd environment, or exist in data modules. e.g. the Profile Games in Our Dynamic Planet. Don't use commas in the comments!

				Note: Writing assignment grades are entered in the Writing module. To enter writing assignment grades, go to the assignment index and run the assignment. Click on the help buttons (round buttons with a question mark) to get instructions for this. Any writing assignment grade can also be entered in the "Grade Entry" module described below.

				1) Log in to your course, go to the Manager.  Do "Operations-->Grade Entry" and when the module opens, you can load students by section (if there are sections in the class) or all of the students. If there are no students,m click on the "Load All Students" button. Select a student by clicking on the student's name in the list, then click the "Enter Grades" button.

				2) The "Enter Grades" screen is a bit complex. Notice that the student's name is listed in the "Current Student" text box, as is the "Selected Assignment." This is the assignment for the grade entry. Notice also the yellow dropdown menu. It lets you select students from the chosen section or loaded class list.

				3) Click one

				Exceptions are specified in the exceptions list, stored on the server. For now, you have to edit this list by hand. Formats must be exact! Soon and point and click interface will be available.

				To edit the exceptions list, log into your class, go to the manager, and do "Operations-->Grade Entry" and click the "Edit Assignments" button. The dropdown menu labelled "Choose file to edit:" has an "assignment_exceptions" choice. Be sure to click the "Store" button when your editing is done.

				Format: ####assignment display name# ****studentNameID* mo/dy/yyyy,hh:mm ####assignment2 display name# ****studentNameID* mo/dy/yyyy,hh:mm line 1: 4 pound signs, the display name of the assignment, then another pound sign example: ####Plate Tectonics Paper# line 2: 4 asterix's, the student's nameID, and another asterix. example: ****TesteraJ_123456* The student's nameID is shown in the class lists in EarthEd, and consists of the last name, first initial, a space (here replaced by an underscore), and the 6 digit ID number. line 3: the new due time. example: 5/6/2005,2:30PM    or it could be a 24 hr time.