Assessment Creation Workflow

Overview

Creating assessments in Preparebuddy.com is straightforward through the web interface. This guide walks you through every type of assessment you can create and how to configure them for optimal student learning and evaluation.

Getting Started

Accessing Assessment Creation

Login to your Preparebuddy.com account
Navigate to Assessment Dashboard from the main menu
Click Create New Assessment button
Choose your assessment type from the available options

Assessment Types Available

1. Essay Assessments

Best for: Creative writing, analytical thinking, opinion pieces

Setup Process: 1. Basic Information - Assessment title (e.g., "Argumentative Essay on Climate Change") - Subject area (English, Social Studies, Science, etc.) - Target grade level or student level - Due date and time zone

Essay Configuration
Word count requirements (minimum/maximum)
Essay format (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
Topic or prompt text
Additional resources or reading materials
Evaluation Settings
Choose or create rubric
Enable AI-powered feedback
Set peer review options
Configure draft submission allowances
Student Assignment
Select individual students or entire classes
Set submission deadline
Enable email notifications
Add special instructions

2. Research Paper Assessments

Best for: In-depth analysis, academic writing, source-based arguments

Setup Process: 1. Research Requirements - Minimum number of sources required - Acceptable source types (academic, news, books, etc.) - Citation style requirements - Research timeline and milestones

Paper Specifications
Length requirements (pages or word count)
Format requirements (double-spaced, font size, etc.)
Required sections (abstract, introduction, conclusion, etc.)
Appendix and bibliography requirements
Milestone Tracking
Topic proposal deadline
Outline submission date
First draft due date
Peer review period
Final submission deadline
Support Resources
Research guide links
Citation examples
Writing center resources
Instructor office hours

3. Case Study Assessments

Best for: Problem-solving, real-world application, critical analysis

Setup Process: 1. Case Study Materials - Upload case study documents (PDF, Word) - Provide background information - Include relevant data and exhibits - Add multimedia resources (videos, images)

Analysis Requirements
Specific questions to address
Analysis framework to use
Length and format requirements
Presentation requirements (if applicable)
Collaboration Settings
Individual or group assignment
Group size limitations
Role assignments within groups
Collaboration tools available
Evaluation Criteria
Problem identification accuracy
Solution quality and feasibility
Use of course concepts
Communication effectiveness

4. Reflection Assessments

Best for: Self-assessment, learning consolidation, personal growth

Setup Process: 1. Reflection Focus - Specific learning objectives to reflect on - Time period for reflection (week, unit, semester) - Guiding questions or prompts - Personal or academic focus

Format Options
Written reflection (journal style)
Video reflection (recorded response)
Portfolio-based reflection
Structured questionnaire format
Privacy Settings
Private (instructor only) or shared reflections
Peer comment allowances
Portfolio visibility settings
Self-assessment scoring options

5. Presentation Assessments

Best for: Communication skills, public speaking, visual design

Setup Process: 1. Presentation Requirements - Topic or theme assignment - Time limits (minimum/maximum) - Required slides or components - Audience specifications

Delivery Format
Live presentation (scheduled time slots)
Recorded video submission
Interactive online presentation
Poster presentation format
Technical Requirements
Presentation software requirements
File format specifications
Upload size limitations
Recording quality standards
Evaluation Components
Content accuracy and depth
Presentation skills and delivery
Visual design and organization
Question and answer performance

6. Project-Based Assessments

Best for: Long-term learning, skill application, creative expression

Setup Process: 1. Project Scope - Project objectives and outcomes - Required deliverables - Timeline and milestones - Resource requirements

Collaboration Framework
Individual or team projects
Role definitions and responsibilities
Communication requirements
Conflict resolution procedures
Submission Requirements
File types and formats accepted
Documentation requirements
Presentation or demonstration needs
Reflection component inclusion

Advanced Configuration Options

Rubric Management

Creating Custom Rubrics

Access Rubric Builder
From assessment creation, click "Create New Rubric"
Or go to Rubric Management from main dashboard
Define Evaluation Criteria
Add criteria categories (Content, Organization, Grammar, etc.)
Set point values for each criterion
Define performance levels (Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Needs Improvement)
Write descriptive text for each level
AI-Assisted Rubric Generation
Describe your assessment in natural language
AI suggests appropriate criteria and levels
Review and customize AI recommendations
Save for future use across assessments

Using Existing Rubrics

Organization Library: Access rubrics shared within your organization
Template Library: Use standardized rubrics for common assessment types
Personal Library: Your previously created rubrics
Public Library: Community-shared rubrics (if enabled)

Student Assignment and Management

Individual Assignment

Student Selection
Browse student list by class or organization
Search by name or student ID
Filter by enrollment status or course
Select multiple students using checkboxes
Personalization Options
Customize instructions for individual students
Adjust deadlines for accommodations
Provide additional resources
Set individual grading criteria

Class Assignment

Class Selection
Choose from enrolled classes
Select multiple classes simultaneously
Filter by subject or course level
Include or exclude specific students
Bulk Configuration
Set universal deadline for all students
Apply standard instructions
Configure class-wide notifications
Set up automatic reminders

Group Assignment

Group Formation
Manually create groups
Allow student self-selection
Random group generation
Skill-based grouping (if data available)
Group Management
Set group size limits
Define role assignments
Enable peer evaluation features
Configure group communication tools

Deadline and Scheduling

Deadline Configuration

Basic Deadline Setting
Select due date from calendar
Set specific time (consider time zones)
Configure grace period options
Set late submission penalties
Advanced Scheduling
Multiple deadline tiers
Different deadlines for different students
Automatic extension requests
Holiday and weekend considerations

Reminder System

Automatic Reminders
Set reminder intervals (1 week, 3 days, 1 day before)
Customize reminder messages
Choose delivery methods (email, in-app notification)
Configure escalation to instructors

Submission and Feedback

Submission Options

File Upload
Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, PPTX, TXT, RTF
Maximum file size limits
Multiple file submissions
Version control and resubmission rules
Text Editor
Rich text editor with formatting options
Word count tracking
Auto-save functionality
Plagiarism detection integration
External Links
Google Docs integration
Portfolio website submissions
Video platform links (YouTube, Vimeo)
Cloud storage links (with access verification)

Feedback Configuration

AI-Powered Feedback
Enable automatic AI analysis
Choose analysis depth (basic, comprehensive, detailed)
Set quality thresholds for AI intervention
Configure AI feedback timing
Instructor Feedback
Text comments and suggestions
Audio feedback recording
Video feedback options
Annotation tools for documents
Peer Feedback
Enable peer review rounds
Set peer review criteria
Anonymize peer reviews
Moderate peer feedback quality

Quality Assurance and Standards

Assessment Validation

Before publishing assessments, the system validates: - Completeness Check: All required fields are filled - Rubric Alignment: Criteria match assessment objectives - Deadline Feasibility: Reasonable time for completion - Resource Accessibility: All linked materials are available

Standards Compliance

Preparebuddy.com ensures assessments meet: - Academic Standards: Alignment with curriculum standards - Accessibility Requirements: WCAG compliance for all students - Privacy Regulations: FERPA and GDPR compliance - Institutional Policies: Custom organization requirements

Quality Control Features

Assessment Preview
Student view simulation
Instructions clarity check
Submission process testing
Mobile compatibility verification
Pilot Testing
Limited release to test group
Collect feedback before full deployment
Performance monitoring
Issue identification and resolution

Best Practices for Assessment Creation

Planning Phase

Clear Objectives
Define specific learning outcomes
Align with course objectives
Consider skill level appropriateness
Plan for diverse learning styles
Resource Planning
Gather necessary materials in advance
Test all technology components
Prepare backup plans for technical issues
Consider student device limitations

Design Phase

Instruction Clarity
Use clear, concise language
Provide examples when helpful
Include step-by-step guidance
Anticipate common questions
Accessibility Considerations
Provide alternative formats
Consider time accommodations
Ensure screen reader compatibility
Include visual and text descriptions

Implementation Phase

Communication Strategy
Announce assessments well in advance
Provide multiple reminder touchpoints
Offer support channels for questions
Monitor submission patterns
Support Systems
Maintain regular office hours
Provide technical support resources
Create FAQ documents for common issues
Establish peer support networks

Evaluation Phase

Feedback Timeliness
Establish and communicate feedback timelines
Use AI assistance for initial feedback
Prioritize high-impact feedback areas
Maintain consistency in evaluation standards
Continuous Improvement
Collect student feedback on assessment experience
Analyze completion rates and performance patterns
Refine instructions based on common issues
Update rubrics based on evaluation experience

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Assessment Setup Problems

Issue: Students cannot access assignment Solution: - Verify student enrollment in correct course - Check assignment publication status - Confirm deadline hasn't passed - Review access permissions

Issue: Rubric not displaying correctly Solution: - Refresh rubric configuration - Check for incomplete criteria definitions - Verify point value calculations - Re-save rubric settings

Student Submission Issues

Issue: File upload failures Solution: - Check file size limitations - Verify supported file formats - Test with different browsers - Use alternative submission methods

Issue: Time zone confusion Solution: - Display deadlines in multiple time zones - Use relative time indicators ("Due in 2 days") - Send timezone-specific reminders - Provide timezone conversion tools

This comprehensive workflow ensures you can create effective, engaging assessments that meet your educational objectives while providing students with clear guidance and support throughout the process.