Delegated grading is primarily used where there are multiple markers, and each marker is assigned a selected group of students to mark. It is the only way to filter anonymous submissions by group in Blackboard Assignment.
- Considerations
- Enable delegated marking
- Accessing marking and submitted work
- Viewing all submitted work
Considerations
When assigned to a group the “delegated” markers can only see submissions from their group it is not possible for them to see the full list of submitted work.
On the Overview and Markable Items tabs in the Gradebook the assigned marker will only see submissions from their group, for all marking statuses (Needs Marking or Needs Posting).
An un-assigned instructor’s view
An assigned instructor’s view
On the Marks tabs assigned markers will see all submissions and marked work, they can use the View option to see submissions not assigned to them. This view is not possible with anonymous marking until the marks are posted and anonymity is lifted.
Enable delegated marking
Delegated marking uses Groups Sets to assign the students to marking. It is important you create these sets in the Groups area before setting your assignment. See Using Groups in Learn Ultra for more information on how to do this. The Groups Sets can be manually or randomly assigned.
- Step 1: Select delegated marking
- Step 2: Assign markers: Select the relevant group set
- Step 3: Assign markers: Select instructors for each group
- Save
Step 1: Select delegated marking
When creating or editing a Blackboard assignment, go to the Settings panel. Under ‘Evaluation options’ tick the box for Delegated Marking.
The Assign markers link will then appear. Click this link to open the Delegated Marking screen.
Step 2: Assign markers: select the relevant group set
Once in the delegated marking screen you will either be directed to select a group or, if no Groups exist in the course, to create a group set and return once you have a lease one group set on the course.
Select the Group Set you wish to use for this assignment.
Step 3: Assign markers: select instructors for each group
Now, for each Group,
- click in the ‘search by marker name’ field to see a list of all the instructors on the course
- select one or more markers from the list
Any instructors not allocated to a group will see all student submission in the Gradebook.
When you have assigned all the markers click Save.
You will then be returned to the Assignment Settings screen.
Accessing and marking submitted work
As a marker, having delegated grading turned on makes very little difference to how you access and mark work.
- Only the students in the group you have been assigned will appear in the list of students in the marking screen.
- All the usual marking options are available
- Annotate the submission (a)
- Add overall feedback (b)
- Add mark (c)
Viewing all submitted work
Instructors, Markers and Teaching Assistants who are not assigned to any of the marking groups can view all submissions, marks and feedback, either by accessing the Submissions tab of the assignment, or by going via the Gradebook.
A possible workflow for a Module Convenor or “lead marker” would be:
- Assign lead marker to their group
- Lead marker marks their group
- Lead marker is then assigned as an additional marker to all the marking groups (it is possible to change assigned markers and to have more than one assigned marker).
This will allow the lead marker to view all the submissions during moderation or other post marking work.
When anonymity is on this will allow the leader marker to see all the submission but they will not be able to see which group the submission is from (unless some code or signature is added to the feedback).
Guide last updated on June 6, 2025