# Assignments Overview

> **Portal:** `/lms` · **Desk:** Learning workspace

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## 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

| Type | Learner submits | Typical use |
|------|-----------------|-------------|
| **Document** | Office file (Word, etc.) | Policy worksheets, templates |
| **PDF** | PDF upload | Signed acknowledgments, scanned forms |
| **URL** | Web link | Portfolio pages, external certifications |
| **Image** | Image file | Photo evidence (safety walkthrough) |
| **Text** | Rich text in browser | Short answers, reflections |

**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

| Feature | Quiz | Assignment | Programming Exercise |
|---------|------|------------|---------------------|
| Auto-grade | Mostly yes | No (manual) | Auto via test cases |
| Format | Questions | File/text upload | Code editor |
| Best for | Knowledge check | Deliverables | Technical skills |

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](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents).
4. [Employee Compliance](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/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

| Role | Create assignment | Grade submissions |
|------|-----------------|-------------------|
| Course Creator | Yes | Yes |
| Moderator | Yes | Yes |
| Batch Evaluator | Yes | Yes |
| LMS Student | No | Own submissions only |

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

| Issue | What to do |
|-------|------------|
| Upload fails | Check file size limits in site settings |
| Cannot find submission | Filter **LMS Assignment Submission** by course/member |
| Score field missing | Enable **Score Assignments** on assignment |
| Progress not updating | Verify lesson completion rules for assignment lessons |

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## 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](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents), then mark the matching compliance row **Complete** with the correct renewal date.

### Where should quiz PDFs be stored for audits?

Use [Employee Document](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) 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](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/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](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) and updates [Employee Compliance](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/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

| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| **LMS Course** | Training container with chapters, lessons, and assessments |
| **LMS Enrollment** | Links a User (employee) to a course with progress tracking |
| **LMS Quiz** | Assessment document composed of linked questions |
| **LMS Quiz Submission** | Record of one learner attempt with scored results |
| **LMS Training Assignment** | Due-date tracker for assigned mandatory training |
| **LMS Certificate** | Issued credential after course or evaluation completion |
| **Mandatory course** | Published course flagged for auto-enrollment on onboarding |
| **Cohort (LMS Batch)** | Scheduled group of learners with shared live sessions and assessments |
| **Employee Document** | HR file-cabinet record for attachments on the employee profile |
| **Employee Compliance** | HR ledger for regulatory and policy compliance status with renewals |
## 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.

| Business need | Primary app | How |
|---------------|-------------|-----|
| Online training library | **Smooth LMS** | **LMS Course** with chapters, lessons, video/PDF/SCORM, quizzes, assignments |
| Assign training + track progress | **Smooth LMS** | **LMS Enrollment**, **LMS Training Assignment**, cohort batches, progress dashboards |
| Print completed tests as PDF | **Smooth LMS** | **LMS Quiz Submission** → **Quiz Submission Report** print format |
| Course completion certificates | **Smooth LMS** | **LMS Certificate** with customizable print templates |
| Employee file storage | **Smooth HR** | [Employee Document](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) with document types and expiry |
| Regulatory compliance tracking | **Smooth HR** | [Employee Compliance](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-compliance) with **Compliance Type** renewals |
| New hire document collection | **Smooth HR** | **Employee Onboarding** portal + e-signatures |

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

| Role | Capabilities |
|------|----------------|
| **System Manager** | Full desk access; configure LMS Settings, print formats, AI keys |
| **Moderator** | Manage all courses, quizzes, enrollments, certificates, statistics |
| **Course Creator** | Author courses, quizzes, assignments; view learner submissions for own content |
| **Batch Evaluator** | Grade submissions, conduct certificate evaluations, manage cohort assessments |
| **LMS Student** | Access `/lms` portal; take quizzes; view own certificates and assignments |

HR users without LMS roles can still manage [Employee Document](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) and [Employee Compliance](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/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.

| LMS artifact | HR destination | When to use |
|--------------|----------------|-------------|
| **LMS Certificate** PDF | [Employee Document](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) | Store course completion certificate on the employee file |
| **Quiz Submission Report** PDF | [Employee Document](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents) | Retain scored test results (safety quizzes, policy acknowledgments) |
| Mandatory training status | [Employee Compliance](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-compliance) | Track renewal dates, expiry alerts, and audit-ready compliance status |

**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.
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## Related guides

- [Quizzes Overview](https://smoothhiring.com/help/lms/assessments/quizzes/overview)
- [Programming Exercises Overview](https://smoothhiring.com/help/lms/assessments/programming-exercises/overview)
- [Employee Documents (HRMS)](https://smoothhiring.com/help/hrms/documents-compliance/employee-documents)

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_Last updated: May 2026_