Discover the new “Assignment” Learning Object in Forma LMS 4.2 — an innovative tool that transforms online courses into hands-on, engaging learning experiences through personalized tasks and moments of active participation.
One of the key new features in Forma LMS 4.2 is the introduction of the “Assignment” Learning Object (LO) — a tool designed to enrich learning paths with practical and assessment-based activities, similar to assignments already available in other platforms.
What is an “Assignment” Learning Object?
The “Assignment” LO allows administrators or instructors to assign customized tasks to learners, who can respond with an essay, a file, or text directly within the platform.
This feature transforms learning from passive content consumption into an interactive and participatory process.
How it works
Using the new “Assignment” LO is simple, and its management is similar to that of other Learning Objects already available in the platform:
- Creating an assignment: The instructor creates a new Learning Object, defining the task, instructions, and submission/completion rules.
- Learner submission: The learner can upload one or more files.
- Evaluation: The instructor can review submissions, leave feedback, and assign a grade.
From the learner’s perspective, the object displays a description, a drag-and-drop upload area, a list of submitted files, and the feedback and score assigned by the instructor.
For instructors, the new LO can be created directly from the Learning Objects management area, offering several configuration options and completion modes:
- LO Edit Options
- LO Score Properties
Instructors can then view and evaluate uploaded files from the course reporting section, where the new “Assignment” LO is fully integrated.
Benefits of the new LO
This new Learning Object introduces several important improvements to the learning experience:
- Increased engagement: Encourages active participation from learners.
- Instructional flexibility: Adapts to various types of tasks, exercises, and project work.
- Personalized assessment: Gives instructors a practical tool to monitor individual learning progress.
Replacing and enhancing previous features
The new “Assignment” LO replaces and extends two older, less efficient features:
- The “Activity” function – previously allowed manual grading entries in the gradebook (in addition to test and SCORM scores) but did not enable learner interaction or integrate with learning materials.
- Note: This feature will be removed, and existing activities will be automatically converted into Learning Objects during the upgrade.
- The “Repository” module – located in the course management area (often in the collaborative menu), allowed file uploads from students but lacked grading and LO integration.
- Note: This feature is now deprecated and will be completely removed in upcoming releases.
With this update, Forma LMS becomes even more complete, allowing instructors to integrate practical assignments and personalized assessments directly into their learning paths.
