Planning for Launchpad Assignments (the easy way)

Some students who use Launchpad for the first time want to know the best way to find and complete assignments. These instructions assume that a student has registered a McMillan access code and has logged in to Launchpad.

Purpose: Access Launchpad assignments and easily spot their deadline.

When you login the Launchpad website, there are two ways to view the assignments and their deadlines. Method A (Less effective) Locate the stack of blue, collapsed assignments. The deadlines are listed under Assignments. Notice the To Do button on the right. Click one of the highlighted bars to open one of the collapsed assignments. The next picture shows what that looks like Metod B (Highly effective) On the navigation bar to the left, is a vertical list of icons. Locate the Calendar icon. Select the Calendar icon to open the calendar.
This view of the deadlines is confusing. The following are reasons Method A is not encouraged. When I assign an exercise, test, activity, or reading, the entire unit moves to the Assignments list. Only some of the assignments are marked with To Do; that means only those assignments are assigned. While Launchpad pulls the entire unit over, all other assignments, without a To Do are not assigned. Finally, you will need to open and collapse each unit individually to locate the due assignments. Don't bother with Method A.
Method B (Highly effective) The calendar identifies each individual assignment on the day it is due. The entire group is not visible because only the assignment shows. This is the easiest way to see the exact assignments on the exact they are due in the order they are due.
Click on the due assignment you wish to complete, with the mouse. A message window will open with an option on the bottom left. Click on the Open button to open the assignment.
Several Kinds of Assignments
Quiz Assignments like this simply require the selection of the correct answer and click the Submit button. You will not get a chance to change your answer or take the quiz again.
Reading Assignments like this simply require you to read the assignment. There is no other action you need to take.
Learning Curve Assignments like this are adaptive tests that help you learn course principles. When you get a question wrong, Learning Curve will teach you and give you another chance to get it right. The test will continue running until you successfully complete the test with a high score.
Writing Assignments like this simply require you to read the prompt, write the required text in the field, and click the Submit button. You are encouraged to read any available reading assignments before performing writing assignments.
Tutorial Assignments like this require you to watch the video and respond to a question. Those questions may be quiz questions or writing prompts. Click Submit when you complete the question.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
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