When a student submits work to a task with Coursework Submissions turned on, a View File icon appears on the task. Select it to open the file in the annotation tool, where you can draw, highlight, add text and comments, and download or export the annotated document.
For admins and teachers: how to open submitted student work in the annotation tool and use each annotation feature.
What is document annotation?
Document annotation lets teachers give feedback directly on student work that has been submitted online in ManageBac+.
Open the annotation tool
Make sure Coursework Submissions is turned on for the task, so students can submit their work there.
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When a student submits work, a View File icon appears next to the file in the task's Dropbox and eCoursework Submission list. Select it to open the file in the split-screen gradebook with the annotation tool.
Annotation tools
| I want to | Go to |
|---|---|
| Move between pages or zoom | Customise the thumbnail view |
| Draw or highlight | Freehand draw or highlight |
| Add images, stamps or links | Insert images, stamps or links |
| Add notes, text or callouts | Add notes, text or callouts |
| Add, delete or reorder pages | Use the document editor |
| Find a word in the document | Search the document |
| Export or download the file | Export to PDF or Download annotations |
| Discuss a section with others | Comment and create comment threads |
Customise the thumbnail view
- Toggle Thumbnail to show or hide page thumbnails for multi-page documents.
- Select Bookmarks to skip to any bookmark in the document, or Annotations to organise by annotation.
- Use the back and forward arrows to move between pages.
- Use the - or + magnifying glass to zoom out or in.
Freehand draw or highlight
- Draw anywhere on the document. You can move and resize drawings and change their colour, thickness and opacity.
- Select Highlighter to highlight text or highlight freehand on the page.
- Select Eraser to remove a drawing or highlight.
Insert images, stamps or links
Insert images, stamps or links on a PDF using the predefined stamp templates. Users can also create their own stamps with the stamp annotation builder.
Add notes, text or callouts
Select the Notes, Text or Callout icon to add that item to the document.
For documents you are submitting to the IB, use the Text icon. Make sure annotations are in the margin and do not cover the student's work.
Use the document editor
Add, delete, duplicate or rotate pages, and move pages to change the order. You can also import other documents to insert more pages.
Search the document
Search the whole document by keyword to skip to any section. Search works on mobile and desktop and supports keyboard shortcuts.
Export to PDF
Use Export to export the annotated document directly from ManageBac+.
Comment and create comment threads
Comment anywhere on the document. Comments appear at the side of the page, and other users can reply in real time to discuss specific sections.
Download annotations
Download the original document, the document with all annotations, or the document with anonymised annotations.
Turn the annotation tool on or off
Admins can turn the annotation tool on or off for the school with Annotations in Settings > School Settings > Key Academic Functions. See Configuring School General Settings.
If annotations are disabled, teachers see the notice "Document preview isn't enabled" in the split-screen gradebook view.