Assignments Overview

Portal: /lms · Desk: Learning workspace

Overview

LMS Assignment documents define deliverable tasks inside Smooth LMS courses—learners upload files or enter text responses, and instructors grade submissions. Unlike auto-scored quizzes, assignments suit projects, document uploads, reflective essays, and evidence of on-the-job application.

Assignments link to courses and appear in lessons similar to quizzes. Each learner submission creates an LMS Assignment Submission with status workflow, attachments, comments, and optional scoring.

Assignment types

Text assignments support Score Assignments (default on) and optional Show Answer with a model Answer for self-check practice—not for graded compliance tasks.

Creating assignments

1. Open /app/lms-assignment → New.
2. Enter Title and Question (instructions in rich text).
3. Select Type matching expected deliverable.
4. Link Course (optional but recommended for discovery).
5. For text assignments, toggle Score Assignments and Show Answer as needed.
6. Save—naming series ASG-#####.

Attach to a lesson by setting Assignment reference on Course Lesson (portal editor) or embedding assignment blocks in lesson content.

Cohort Assessments tab can schedule assignments with due dates parallel to quizzes.

Learner submission flow

1. Learner opens assignment lesson in /lms.
2. Reads instructions in Question field rendering.
3. Uploads file or enters text per Type.
4. Clicks Submit Assignment—creates LMS Assignment Submission.

Resubmission rules depend on instructor configuration—evaluators may allow multiple submissions by creating new submission records or resetting status.

Learners receive notifications when graders leave feedback or update scores.

Grading and evaluation

Instructors open /app/lms-assignment-submission:

• Review Assignment Attachment or answer text
• Set Status (e.g., Pass, Fail, Not Graded)
• Assign Score when Score Assignments is enabled
• Add Comments visible to learner

Batch Evaluator role can grade cohort assignments from batch dashboard Assessments views.

Graded assignments contribute to batch completion metrics but course progress rules vary—confirm whether assignment lessons are required checkpoints in course outline.

Assignments vs quizzes vs programming exercises

Choose assignments when human judgment or external file evidence is required—e.g., manager sign-off worksheets uploaded as PDF and stored in HR Employee Document.

HR and compliance integration

Assignment submissions often produce documents suitable for HR filing:

1. Learner uploads signed policy PDF.
2. Grader approves in LMS.
3. HR downloads attachment from LMS Assignment Submission or asks learner to re-upload to Employee Document.
4. Employee Compliance marked Complete with expiry aligned to policy renewal.

For e-signed policy acknowledgments, consider Smooth HR Signature Request instead—but assignments remain useful for homework-style evidence and rubric-based grading.

Permissions

Import/export supported for migrating assignment libraries between environments.

Tips

• Write clear Question instructions with file format and size expectations.
• Use PDF type when you need immutable submissions.
• Disable Show Answer on graded compliance assignments.
• Align due dates with LMS Training Assignment due dates for reporting consistency.
• Review submission backlog weekly from desk list filters by Status.

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

Does LMS training completion automatically update Employee Compliance?

No. Smooth LMS tracks learning progress, quiz scores, and certificates. Smooth HR Employee Compliance is updated separately by HR when a regulatory or policy requirement is satisfied. Download LMS PDFs and attach them to Employee Document, then mark the matching compliance row Complete with the correct renewal date.

Where should quiz PDFs be stored for audits?

Use Employee Document on the employee record with an appropriate Employee Document Type (for example Training Record or Policy Acknowledgment). Include the Quiz Submission Report PDF exported from LMS. For organization-wide retention policies, align document type expiry settings with Employee Compliance renewal periods.

Which desk workspace manages LMS content?

Open the Learning workspace from the app switcher. Desk paths use /app/list name slugs—for example /app/lms-quiz and /app/lms-enrollment. Learners consume training at /lms on the same site.

How do new hires get enrolled in mandatory training?

When Employee Onboarding is created in HRMS, the LMS integration enrolls the employee user in every published Mandatory course and creates LMS Training Assignment rows with default due dates. Ensure the Employee record has a linked User with the LMS Student role.

What is the difference between an LMS Certificate and HR compliance?

An LMS Certificate proves course completion inside Smooth LMS. Employee Compliance in Smooth HR tracks regulatory obligations (training renewals, I-9, background checks) with scheduled expiry alerts. Course certificates do not automatically appear on the HR compliance ledger—HR attaches LMS PDFs to Employee Document and updates Employee Compliance when policy requires.

Can managers view their team's quiz scores?

Managers with Moderator or Course Creator roles can open LMS Quiz Submission list views filtered by course and member. The Statistics dashboard summarizes average assessment scores by course. For official personnel files, export PDFs and store under the employee's HR documents rather than sharing desk login credentials.

Glossary

Smooth LMS + Smooth HR capability map

Use Smooth LMS for training delivery and assessments, and Smooth HR for employee files and compliance records — both on the same account.

Course completion certificates from LMS are separate from HR compliance records until HR explicitly files them. Attach LMS PDFs to Employee Document or update Employee Compliance when a training record must appear on the official employee file for audits.

LMS roles reference

HR users without LMS roles can still manage Employee Document and Employee Compliance records when L&D provides exported PDFs.

Connecting training records to Smooth HR

Smooth LMS and Smooth HR share one account. Completing a course does not automatically update HR compliance—you connect the two when your policy requires it.

Recommended workflow: When an employee completes mandatory training and passes required assessments, download the LMS certificate or quiz PDF from the Learning portal or desk, then attach it to an Employee Document or update the corresponding Employee Compliance record. HR Managers can configure Compliance Type with renewal periods so expiring certifications trigger scheduled reminders—complementing LMS Training Assignment due dates.

New hires enrolled via Employee Onboarding may receive automatic LMS enrollments for courses marked Mandatory; HR still uses Employee Compliance for regulatory items (I-9, background checks) that live outside LMS.

Related guides

• Quizzes Overview
• Programming Exercises Overview
• Employee Documents (HRMS)

Last updated: May 2026