Support for Students – Crowdmark https://crowdmark.com Online Grading Software for Instructors Tue, 09 Jul 2024 14:20:05 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://crowdmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/favicon.png Support for Students – Crowdmark https://crowdmark.com 32 32 Student performance reports https://crowdmark.com/help/student-performance-reports/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:18:55 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=5563

Once you have grades returned in Crowdmark, you’ll find a performance report in your course dashboard that will show your progress across assessments. To view your performance report:

  1. Click into your course, and click the Performance report button.
  2. Your performance report will look something like this 
  3. The line graph section shows your progress across any graded assessments in the course. If your instructor has included class averages, they will also show in a separate line.

  4. If you scroll down you’ll see your top and bottom scoring questions in the course. Clicking in to any of these will take you directly to the graded assessment, where you can view feedback from your instructor.

]]> Sharing a graded assignment or test https://crowdmark.com/help/sharing-a-graded-assignment-or-test/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:16:46 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=5559

By default, your graded work can only be viewed by you and your instructor while signed in to Crowdmark. If you wish to share your grades on an assignment, test, or exam you can generate a link that can be shared with others. The link is public, meaning that anyone who has the link can see the page without signing in to Crowdmark, but the URL is a long, random string of characters that would be impossible to guess.

Sharing your results

  1. Open your graded assessment.
  2. Click Get shareable link. The URL will be copied to your clipboard so you can paste it wherever you’d like to share it. You can access the URL again anytime by repeating these steps.

]]> Verifying that an assignment was submitted https://crowdmark.com/help/verifying-that-an-assignment-was-submitted/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:01:27 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=5544

Both you and your instructor have access to a log of all actions you have taken when submitting an assignment. If something has gone wrong or if you are not sure when your assignment was submitted you can look at the log.

Viewing your submission activity log

  1. Go to the assignment list in your course. Click the Submitted or Not submitted link under the Status heading. The submission log will appear.

  2. You will see a list of actions including the time and name of the person who performed each action. This is an example of a typical submission:

    A normal submission includes all of the actions below:

    • Viewed assignment page
    • Started timed assessment (Timed assessments only)
    • Student was added to a group (Group assessments only)
    • Uploaded 2 pages to Q1:image1.jpg, image2.jpg (Image/PDF upload questions only)
    • Answered Q2 (Text and Multiple Choice questions only)
    • Clicked submit button
    • Submission time logged
    • Submission processing completed

    Submission time logged is the official time that you submitted. Submission processing completed means that your files were successfully uploaded and processed.

If something goes wrong during the upload you will normally see an error message and an Upload failed entry will show up in the log (your instructor will be able to see it as well). A list of errors and their resolutions is available on the Completing and submitting an assessment page.

Viewing file details

MD5 image hash

Crowdmark logs the MD5 hash (the file’s unique identifier) for each file that you upload to an assessment. What that means is if you submit a file, then submit the same file again, you’ll see the hashes on the two submissions are identical. The MD5 hash is built into the file when it is created on your device or computer. If you alter the file by changing the format, editing the image, or even re-saving the same file, the hash will appear different from the original image hash.

Here’s an example of what MD5 hashes look like in your submission log. By default, the hashes won’t be visible. You can click the Show file details button at the top of the log to show the hashes beside each file.

]]> Signing in to Crowdmark https://crowdmark.com/help/signing-in-to-crowdmark/ Tue, 06 Dec 2022 13:52:13 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=5536

There are two ways to sign in to Crowdmark from the Sign In page:

  1. With an email address and password.
  2. Through your school’s login (if your school supports this).

If this is your first time signing in to Crowdmark, see Claiming your account (signing in for the first time).

To access your sign-in options

  1. Go to the Sign In page.
  2. Choose your institution from the dropdown menu.

Signing in through your school

Some schools offer the option to sign in using your school credentials. If you have this option, we recommend that you continue using it.

  1. If your school offers an integrated sign-in, you’ll see a page with the school logo and a sign in button. If you do not see this, your school is not yet integrated with Crowdmark and you will have to sign in using your email address and password.

  2. Click Sign in with [your school’s LMS] (“LMS” is whichever system your school uses). You will be prompted to enter your school username and password. Depending on the system your school uses, you might also have to enter an email address and verify it the first time. Crowdmark will take you through this process.

  3. After you have signed in successfully, you will see a page titled My Courses, which is your portfolio of assessments on Crowdmark.

Signing in using your email and password

If your school does not have an option to sign in using your school credentials, you’ll sign in to Crowdmark using a user email and password selected by you.

  1. Enter your Email and Password and click Sign in. You will see your My Courses page.

If this is your first time signing in to Crowdmark, see Claiming your account (signing in for the first time).

Troubleshooting the sign in process

If you receive an Invalid password error message, you may not have set a Crowdmark password, or you may not have finished the Claim account workflow. Click Forgot your password? to set a password for you Crowdmark account.

If you enter an incorrect password too many times, you’ll receive a message that your account has been locked. To unlock your account, click Unlock account on the sign-in page and follow the instructions in the email you receive. Do not click the unlock button more than once, as the email you receive contains a unique one-time-use link which will be invalidated by multiple clicks.

If you sign in to Crowdmark and cannot see your courses or assessments, there are several possibilities:

  • You’re signed in using a different email address than what has been enrolled in the course or assessment. Try signing in with any other email addresses you have, and check with the instructor to verify.
  • You haven’t been invited to or enrolled in that course or assessment yet. Check with the instructor to verify.
  • Your LMS email address has changed, and your single sign on is sending you to a new account. Check your local LMS settings, or try signing in to Crowdmark directly using your email address and password. See above for password issues.


If you have confirmed you have multiple Crowdmark accounts, merging the accounts will allow you to use the email addresses interchangeably. If you still cannot access your courses, please contact support@crowdmark.com.

]]> Completing and submitting an assessment https://crowdmark.com/help/completing-and-submitting-an-assessment/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:49:20 +0000 /?post_type=help&p=5278

There are three types of questions that could appear on your assessment. You may be required to upload PDF or image files, enter text, or select a multiple choice response.

Make sure to follow any instructions that your instructor has written and leave enough extra time before the due date to make sure your work is submitted successfully.

How to submit an assessment

Answer the questions

How you answer the questions depends on the type of response that is expected. If you are responding with PDF or image files, you’ll need to complete the question on paper, in Word, Google Docs, or a note-taking app (unless your instructor has specified otherwise). If you are responding to a text or multiple choice question, you can input your responses directly in Crowdmark. See specific instructions for each question type below.

All of your responses and file uploads will be saved automatically as you complete the assessment. If you have an internet connection issue that prevents uploading or saving, you’ll see an error message. See below for connection troubleshooting. In all cases, you will need to click the Submit button to send in your work for grading.

  1. Write your answer on paper, in Word, Google Docs, or a note-taking app (unless your instructor has specified otherwise). In Crowdmark, each question has its own upload area so it’s best to complete each question on a separate page or crop out each question later. Make sure that each answer is clearly labelled with the question number.
  2. Save, scan or photograph your responses. Read the Preparing images for submission section of this page to make sure your work is easy to read and ready to submit.
    • Crowdmark accepts PDF, JPG, and PNG files. The size limit is 12mb per JPG or PNG file and 25mb per PDF file.
    • If you’ve completed the assessment in Word, Google Docs, or a similar program, it is recommended to save your work in PDF format (Crowdmark doesn’t accept .docx files).
    • If you’ve completed your assessment on paper, you can scan it using a scanner or take photos of your work using your mobile phone camera. A scanner app can help you take clearer photos of your work.
  3. Upload your files. Drag and drop your files to the upload areas under the questions or browse to locate them. You can drag pages between questions. If you need to rotate a page, click the magnifying glass icon on the page, then click the Rotate page button. To remove a page, click the “x”.

Type your answers in the text box provided. This box supports Markdown to format text, or to insert images, files or links. You can also use LaTeX to type equations. Use the Preview button to make sure your formatting renders correctly.

To attach files, click Attach files or drag and drop files into the text box. Images will automatically be embedded in the text, while other files will show up as a link for the grader to view or download the file. The file size limit is 20 MB.

Click the correct response. You may be able to select multiple responses if required by the question. If you select multiple responses on a question that only has one correct response, it will be graded as incorrect.

Submit the assessment

After you’ve answered the questions, you’ll need to submit the assessment to make it available for grading. If you have uploaded images, make sure they are in order and rotated correctly.

When you’re ready, click Submit for evaluation. Congratulations! 🎉 You’ve submitted your assessment. To ensure that everything has been submitted correctly, scroll down and review your submission.

You may resubmit anytime before the due date, however, once the due date has passed your submission is locked in.

If your instructor chooses to return the assessment after grading, the page will be updated with a link to view your grades. You will also receive an email from Crowdmark containing the link.

Preparing images for submission

  1. If you answered multiple questions on one page, crop out each question separately before uploading your responses. Make sure that each answer is clearly labelled with the question number.
  2. Use a scanner or take photos of your work in a well-lit room and keep your desk or other objects out of the background.
  3. Using a scanner app on your phone can help improve the quality of the photos. These apps can automatically crop out backgrounds and fix the lighting to make your writing more readable.

For optimal results, we suggest these settings:

  • PDF or JPEG file format (required).
  • Greyscale or color.
  • 200 DPI scanning resolution. This should result in images with dimensions 1700×2200 px.
  • It is recommended to enable a “Darker” setting if your scanner allows it. This helps light pencil marks to be seen more clearly.

Compress an image on Mac using Preview

  1. Open your image file in the Preview application.
  2. Click File > Export, type a name, then choose where you want to save it.
  3. Click the Format dropdown menu and choose JPEG.
  4. Adjust the Quality slider until File Size is in between 1 MB and 2 MB.
  5. Click Save.

Compress an image on Windows using Microsoft Photos

  1. Open your image file using the Microsoft Photos application.
  2. Click … at the top-right corner of the application > Resize > Define custom dimensions. Keep the width and height unchanged, adjust the Quality slider to reduce the file size.
  3. Click Save resized copy, and then choose where you want to save it.

On your Mac

  1. Open your image file using the Preview application.
  2. Click File > Export, type a name, then choose where you want to save it.
  3. Click the Format dropdown menu and choose JPEG.
  4. Click Save.

On the device

  1. Open Settings
  2. Tap Camera
  3. Tap Formats
  4. Select Most compatible

Submitting an assessment late

If you haven’t submitted the assessment yet and the due date has passed, you may submit the assessment once. Resubmissions are not allowed after the due date because your instructor might have started grading. Please contact your instructor if you need to resubmit your work after the due date.

Your instructor may choose to deduct a penalty from your grade if you submit late. You can see if there is a penalty for late submissions anytime by clicking on the due date in the assessment. Submissions will be closed when grading is finished

Troubleshooting submission issues

If something goes wrong while you are trying to submit your assessment, you will usually see an error message. Both you and your instructor have access to a log of all actions you have taken to submit the assessment. You can read about the log in the Verifying that an assessment was submitted article.

Here are the possible errors and solutions:

  • General error: Sorry, your submission could not be uploaded. This is usually temporary and happens when something interfered with the upload. We recommend that you:
    • Try again later or use a different internet connection.
    • Disable extensions/add-ons in your browser, update your browser, or try a different browser.
    • Try a computer if you are submitting from a mobile device.
    If this does not solve the problem, contact Crowdmark Support and include the error message, any files you’re trying to submit, and the browser and operating system you’re using.
  • Incorrect file type: Crowdmark accepts JPG, PNG and PDF files to PDF/image file upload questions. Please save or export your file in one of these formats.
  • File size is too big: The limit is 12mb per image file (JPG, PNG) and 25mb per PDF file. Try scanning your work in lower quality.
  • PDF text is garbled: After uploading to Crowdmark, sometimes PDF files do not look as expected, particularly if they include LaTeX or diagrams. If you export the pages as JPG or PNG files, this will flatten the text and ensure that the formatting is maintained.
  • Pages are missing: Re-save the files in a different format (JPG, PNG, or PDF) and try submitting again.
  • Photo rotation is inconsistent: If you’ve submitted from a mobile phone, the rotation data may not be correct. Try rotating the image on a computer to overwrite the rotation data, then reupload it to Crowdmark.
  • Your submission or parts of your submission have disappeared: Make sure to work on the assessment in only one tab or window at a time. If you are working on the assessment in one tab and have a second tab open with the same assessment, your changes won’t automatically populate in the second tab. The same goes for group assessments, so only one group member should submit the assessment. Keep in mind that text and multiple choice responses will save if you exit the page and come back or refresh the page, but images and PDF files will need to be re-added to your submission.
]]> Claiming your account (signing in for the first time) https://crowdmark.com/help/claiming-your-account/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:30:38 +0000 /?post_type=help&p=5272

If your class is using Crowdmark, an account is created for you when your instructor distributes your first assessment (for a remote assessment) or returns your graded work (for an in-person assessment). There is no need for you to create an account before this happens.

If you have created an account ahead of time, you will not see any courses or assessments yet. You will also need to make sure that you are accessing Crowdmark with the same email address that your instructor has enrolled you with (this is usually your school email).

Once you have been invited to an assessment or your grades have been sent out, you’ll need to claim your Crowdmark account.

Claiming your account

  1. a) For a remote assessment
    In the email you receive inviting you to your assessment, click Sign in and go to assignment.

    b) For an in-person assessment
    When you receive an email distributing the grades for your assessment, click the link to Sign in and view grades.

  2. You’ll be asked to claim your account. Click the Claim my account button to send an email.

  3. In the email you have just received, click the Claim my account link. You’ll see the claim account page on Crowdmark.

  4. Enter your Full name, a Password (choose a strong password with at least 8 characters!), and the Password again to confirm. Check “I agree to the Terms of Service” and click Claim my account.

  5. You’re in! If you clicked on an assignment or a link to your grades you will go directly to that assessment. If not, you will see a page titled My Courses, which is your portfolio of assessments on Crowdmark. If you have created an account before you’re invited to an assessment or had grades sent out, this area will be blank.

 
]]> Accessing assignments and grades https://crowdmark.com/help/accessing-assignments-and-grades/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:16:58 +0000 /?post_type=help&p=5257

To submit assignments and access grades on Crowdmark you will need to sign in with a Crowdmark account. Your account is a portfolio of all of your assessments on Crowdmark that you can access anytime on a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.

Once your instructor emails you an assignment or grades, you will receive an email from “Crowdmark Mailer” that includes a link which you can click to sign in to Crowdmark. Since your instructor has enrolled you in a course, your email exists in the Crowdmark system and you will have to claim your account the first time you sign in by setting a password. To learn more about signing in for the first time, see Claiming your account (signing in for the first time).

I can’t access the course and/or assessment

You won’t see any assessments in Crowdmark until instructor distributes your first assessment (for a remote assessment) or returns your graded work (for an in-person assessment). In both of these cases you will receive an email inviting you to claim your account in Crowdmark.

If you have not received an email from Crowdmark yet, please ask your instructor about it. Your instructor may have enrolled you under a different email address. If you have multiple accounts/email addresses, you can merge those using the instructions here: Merging Crowdmark accounts.

If you have received an email from Crowdmark but still don’t see a course or assessment, here are some troubleshooting steps:

  1. Make sure that you are signing in with the same email address that your instructor has enrolled you in the course with. This is usually your school email or the email you use to sign in to your school’s online services.

  2. Verify with the instructor that an assessment or grades have actually been sent out.

  3. If you have been signing to Crowdmark with your email and password, try signing in to crowdmark.com using the Sign in through your school dropdown (if it is available for your school).

    If you have been signing in with your school, sign out and click “Sign in with email/password” instead.

  4. Try signing in with any other email addresses you have.

]]> Archiving a course https://crowdmark.com/help/archiving-a-course/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:00:58 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=3071

If you have completed or dropped a course you can hide it from your My Courses page by archiving it. Once a course is archived, you can still view the assessments or unarchive it from the Archived courses page.

Archiving a course

  1. Go to your My Courses page. You will see your list of courses.

  2. Find the course you would like to archive. To the right of the course’s title, click the down arrow.

  3. Click Archive this course. The course will be moved to your Archived courses page. You can find a link to this page at the bottom of your My Courses page.

Unarchiving a course

  1. Go to your My Courses page. You will see your list of courses.

  2. Scroll down to the bottom of your course list and click the Archived courses link. The Archived courses page will appear.

  3. Find the course you would like to archive. To the right of the course’s title, click the down arrow.

  4. Click Unarchive course. The course will be moved back to your My Courses page.

]]> Adding another email address to a Crowdmark account https://crowdmark.com/help/adding-another-email-address-to-a-crowdmark-account/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:00:46 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=3070

In case you lose access to your school email address (in some schools this happens soon after graduation) or if you plan to switch schools we recommend adding a personal email address to your Crowdmark account. That way you’ll always have access to your portfolio.

Adding an email address

  1. Go to your Account page by clicking your name or icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

  2. Scroll down to the Email addresses section. In the Add another email field, type the email address you wish to add. Crowdmark will send you an email to verify that you own the email address.

  3. Once you receive the email, click the Verify ownership button.

  4. The email address has been verified and added to your account.

  5. Optional: You can change the primary email associated with your account to the email you just added. Go back to your Account page and click the Primary email dropdown. Select the email you wish to make primary, then click Update my settings.

 
]]> Merging Crowdmark accounts https://crowdmark.com/help/merging-crowdmark-accounts/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 22:00:28 +0000 http://crowdmark.com/?post_type=help&p=3069

If you have multiple Crowdmark accounts because of an email address mix up or you’ve gone to multiple schools you can merge those accounts so your assessments will all be in one place.

Merge your accounts

  1. Go to your Account page by clicking your name or icon in the upper right corner of the screen.

  2. Scroll down to the Email addresses section. In the Add another email field, type the email address of your other account. Crowdmark will send you an email to verify that you own the email address.

  3. Once you receive the email, click the Verify ownership button.

  4. You will see a page asking to confirm the merge. Merging will move all data and assessments from the email you just added to your current account. Click the Confirm merge button.

  5. Your email has been verified and your accounts are being merged. This process will happen in the background and should take less than 15 minutes (the time depends on how many assessments you have; it could take only a second). Crowdmark won’t notify you when the merge has finished, but when it has you will see your courses and assessments from both accounts on the My Courses page.

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