1. Creating a Task in DB Primary2. A pupil’s view of tasks3. Marking Tasks4. The DB ‘Markbook’5. Ideas for using Tasks6. Examples of forum tasks7. Examples of blog tasks

TasksClick on the links below to find out more about using tasks in DB Primary

Creating a TaskObjectives :1. Create a new homework / lesson task2. Assign pupils to a task3. Enter task instructions4. Enter assessment information5. Save a task

Objective 1. Create a new homework task

Step 1: Logged in as a teacher, go to the community you would like to add a task to

Step 1: Logged in as a teacher, go to the community you would like to add a task to

Step 2: Click on the ‘Tasks’ button from the menu listStep 2: Click on the ‘Tasks’ button from the menu list

Step 3: Click on the ‘New Task’ buttonStep 3: Click on the ‘New Task’ button

Step 4:

•Type in the title for the task in the field provided

•Select the ‘Type of Task’ you would like to create

•Click the green tick

Step 4:

•Type in the title for the task in the field provided

•Select the ‘Type of Task’ you would like to create

•Click the green tick

Types of task:

•Answer Quiz – allows the teacher to create a task and then create a quiz for the child to answer

•Answer Survey – allows the teacher to create a task and then create a survey for the child to answer

•New Forum Topic – Improver themed community only – Allows the child to start a new Forum topic

•Forum Reply – allows the child to reply to a topic that the teacher has created

•New Blog Entry – allows the child to create a personal blog entry

•Write Document – allows the child to create a document using the built in document package and then it is saved in their ‘My Work’ area

•Draw Picture – allows the child to create a picture using the built in paint package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

Types of task:

•Answer Quiz – allows the teacher to create a task and then create a quiz for the child to answer

•Answer Survey – allows the teacher to create a task and then create a survey for the child to answer

•New Forum Topic – Improver themed community only – Allows the child to start a new Forum topic

•Forum Reply – allows the child to reply to a topic that the teacher has created

•New Blog Entry – allows the child to create a personal blog entry

•Write Document – allows the child to create a document using the built in document package and then it is saved in their ‘My Work’ area

•Draw Picture – allows the child to create a picture using the built in paint package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

Types of task:

•Record video – allows the child to record a short video using the built in recording package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

•Record sound-clip – allows the child to record a short sound clip using the built in recording package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

•Wiki Contribution – allows the child to make a contribution to a wiki using the collaborative feature

•Any File – allows the child to upload any file from their ‘My Work’ area in submission for the task

•Other File – requires the teacher to place a link for the children to complete or share a file for them to access

Types of task:

•Record video – allows the child to record a short video using the built in recording package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

•Record sound-clip – allows the child to record a short sound clip using the built in recording package and is saved to their ‘My Work’ area

•Wiki Contribution – allows the child to make a contribution to a wiki using the collaborative feature

•Any File – allows the child to upload any file from their ‘My Work’ area in submission for the task

•Other File – requires the teacher to place a link for the children to complete or share a file for them to access

Objective 2. Assign pupils to a task

Step 1: Click on the children you would like to take part in this activity, or for the whole class click the ‘Select All’ button

Step 1: Click on the children you would like to take part in this activity, or for the whole class click the ‘Select All’ button

Step 2: Click the ‘Next’ buttonStep 2: Click the ‘Next’ button

Objective 3. Enter task instructions

Step 1: Enter the instructions for the taskStep 1: Enter the instructions for the task

Step 2: Select the date you would like the task to go live and when it is due in

Step 2: Select the date you would like the task to go live and when it is due in

Step 3: Select the icon that you would like to represent this task

Step 3: Select the icon that you would like to represent this task

Objective 4. Add Assessment Information

Step 1: Click the ‘Next Task’ buttonStep 1: Click the ‘Next Task’ button

Step 2: In the Marking Scales section choose the relevant marking scale from the dropdown and click on the ‘Add’ button.

Step 2: In the Marking Scales section choose the relevant marking scale from the dropdown and click on the ‘Add’ button.

Step 3: If you would like the children to self-evaluate, add a question prompt and either add your own answer types or select from the traffic lights or smileys.

Step 3: If you would like the children to self-evaluate, add a question prompt and either add your own answer types or select from the traffic lights or smileys.

Enter your own optionsEnter your own options

Choose from the pre-set optionsChoose from the pre-set options

Congratulations You have successfully created a homework task

and assigned it to pupils

Objective 5. Save a task

Step 1: Click the ‘Save Task’ buttonStep 1: Click the ‘Save Task’ button

A child’s view – taking tasks

When a child logs in and they have outstanding tasks, they will automatically be taken to their ‘Things to do’ page.

Children will be able to click on any of the images to complete the task.

When a child logs in and they have outstanding tasks, they will automatically be taken to their ‘Things to do’ page.

Children will be able to click on any of the images to complete the task.

A child’s view – taking tasks: a blog task

The instructions for the task will appear at the top of the screen. The instructions for the task will appear at the top of the screen.

Here you can see the pupil has started a blog task, where they have to keep a reading journal.

Here you can see the pupil has started a blog task, where they have to keep a reading journal.

When they have completed the task, they click on ‘Save’ to submit

it for marking.

When they have completed the task, they click on ‘Save’ to submit

it for marking.

They will be shown the following confirmation dialogue.

They will be shown the following confirmation dialogue.

A child’s view – ‘Any File’ type of task

In this example, the task is an ‘Any File’ type. The child is taken to their my work area where they click on a file to submit for the task. If the file is not already located in their my work area, they can click on upload to browse for it on their computer.

In this example, the task is an ‘Any File’ type. The child is taken to their my work area where they click on a file to submit for the task. If the file is not already located in their my work area, they can click on upload to browse for it on their computer.

If you have set some self-assessment options, the child will then be taken to a screen like the above , where they can choose from one of the traffic lights and enter in a comment to share with the teacher.

If you have set some self-assessment options, the child will then be taken to a screen like the above , where they can choose from one of the traffic lights and enter in a comment to share with the teacher.

A child’s view – taking tasks: self-assessment

Once a task has been marked, the pupil will be notified of their mark by email. Those with the improver theme will receive a notification on their desktop when they login.

Once a task has been marked, the pupil will be notified of their mark by email. Those with the improver theme will receive a notification on their desktop when they login.

You can access your tasks from a couple of places.

To access all tasks that have been set in a particular community click on the tasks button on the left hand navigation of the community front page.

You can access your tasks from a couple of places.

To access all tasks that have been set in a particular community click on the tasks button on the left hand navigation of the community front page.

Marking Tasks

Here you will see a list of all tasks that have been set in the community.Here you will see a list of all tasks that have been set in the community.

For an overview of all tasks that have been set regardless of which community, click on your homepage, and hit the left navigation arrow or the button circled below to take you to your own tasks administration page.

For an overview of all tasks that have been set regardless of which community, click on your homepage, and hit the left navigation arrow or the button circled below to take you to your own tasks administration page.

Hovering over the progress bar will tell you how many children have completed the task. The bar becomes progressively greener as more children complete the task. Click on the bar to take you to the task administration screen.

Hovering over the progress bar will tell you how many children have completed the task. The bar becomes progressively greener as more children complete the task. Click on the bar to take you to the task administration screen.

In the task administration screen you can edit any details about the task: such as the date due, instructions (click on the Details tab), assessment information (by clicking on the Assessment tab) or you can see who has finished their task by

clicking on the Progress tab.

In the task administration screen you can edit any details about the task: such as the date due, instructions (click on the Details tab), assessment information (by clicking on the Assessment tab) or you can see who has finished their task by

clicking on the Progress tab.

In this case we can see that 3 pupils have not started the task and one has finished. If we click on View next to Charli’s name, you will be able to mark the task.

In this case we can see that 3 pupils have not started the task and one has finished. If we click on View next to Charli’s name, you will be able to mark the task.

Here you can see the pupil’s self-assessment. You can assign a mark, in this case assign a National

Curriculum level, and enter a comment.

Here you can see the pupil’s self-assessment. You can assign a mark, in this case assign a National

Curriculum level, and enter a comment.

When you have finished, click on the tick at the top right hand corner to save the assessment or

the cross to close the assessment. Clicking on the right arrow will take you to the next piece of work that has been submitted for that task and

is ready for marking.

When you have finished, click on the tick at the top right hand corner to save the assessment or

the cross to close the assessment. Clicking on the right arrow will take you to the next piece of work that has been submitted for that task and

is ready for marking.

The DB Mark Book

Each community has a mark book where all the teacher assessments are recorded.

To find the Mark Book click on the Tasks tab on the community front page.

Each community has a mark book where all the teacher assessments are recorded.

To find the Mark Book click on the Tasks tab on the community front page.

Next click on the Mark Book tabNext click on the Mark Book tab

Export all this information to an excel spreadsheet.

Export all this information to an excel spreadsheet.

The mark book provides a useful overview of all the tasks that have been set in this community and all of the teacher assessments.

The tasks are shown along the top and the members of the community down the left. Hovering over the task title will provide you with more information, like the full title of the task and the assessment scale that has been assigned to it.

The mark book provides a useful overview of all the tasks that have been set in this community and all of the teacher assessments.

The tasks are shown along the top and the members of the community down the left. Hovering over the task title will provide you with more information, like the full title of the task and the assessment scale that has been assigned to it.

If you have quite a few tasks listed you will have to click on the Older tab to scroll through.

If you have quite a few tasks listed you will have to click on the Older tab to scroll through.

Some ideas for using tasks the different task options

Click on the link above for some examples on how to tie the forum tool into your tasks. The examples include:

•Reflections on topic work e.g. What did you learn about the Romans? What did you enjoy about the Aztecs topic?

•Ask for suggestions of things the children will want to study in the next topic or things they already know about the upcoming topic.

•A ‘make my sentence more interesting’ thread.

•Add a sentence to make a class story (give them an opening sentence).

•You could post a picture or a poem and get children to respond to it.

•Weekly brain-busters ‘Do aliens exist?’, ‘Why is the sky blue?’

•A ‘Who am I?’ Quiz (Mystery History Person). Children ask questions to find out.

Forum Reply

New Blog Entry•Create a reading journal (you can get the task to repeat weekly) •Create a weekly diary task. •Write in the role of a famous character from history. •Introduce yourself for an e-twinning project.

Write Document•“Make a rough draft of your opening paragraph. Don’t forget to include the following...”•“Create an argument for or against...”

Paint Picture•Draw and annotate your design of a new school logo/charity week logo/pizza design etc. •Draw something that does and doesn’t use electricity to work (KS1)•Draw a circuit diagram (Y4)

Record Video•Write and perform a news report on one of the following headlines ‘Prime Minister praises the Head Teacher’, ‘Skateboarding dog wins prize’.•Record your questions for (famous character from history/from current book we are reading).

Wiki Contribution• You can use the wiki contribution tool in a similar way to a forum. It will be located on the front page of a community and is useful for getting a list of ideas. For example, ask for words to describe a picture. The words may then lead to ideas for a poem or piece of writing.

Any File• Have the children complete and submit some research work at the end of a project. They choose the format to present their work in.

Other• This is ideal for weekend homework tasks when you just want to relay a set of instructions or share a document. For example:

Find out as much as you can about...Don’t forget to bring...into class on MondayHere are your spellings for the following week (click on the link button, then browse for the file)

Writing a class story

Using Forums

Make my sentence more interesting

Using Forums

Using a picture as a

stimulus

Using Forums

I would like some help with...

Using Forums

Starting a topic or reviewing a topic

Using Forums

Maths questions

Using Forums

Literacy Work

Using Forums

Topic work: History

How about changing this to a ‘Where am I

going?’ thread?

Using Forums

Using Forums

Weekly ‘brain busters’ or controversial topics

Using Blogs

Reading Journal

Using Blogs

A weekly diary

Using Blogs

A reflection on class work: children could talk about what they enjoyed, found difficult or want to find out more about.

Using Blogs

Writing in the role of a character from history or from a book

Using Blogs

Using blogs in an eTwinning context: you can have the children introduce themselves and then find someone

else’s blog to comment on.