Using Release Conditions for Quizzes and Other Assignments

Joel.J.4284

I asked one of my classes to try accessing a quiz to see how a "release condition" works. We discovered that the students couldn't see the quiz until they had completed the reading.

"From the students' perspective, they can't see the posted assignment. Therefore, they don't know it's there and cannot see the instructions for accessing it."

I would like my students to be able to see all released assignments/quizzes,
but not be able to gain access until the release condition(s) are met.

Is there a way to make this feature available to faculty?

It would significantly improve student engagement with learning materials and activities.

Please advise.

PS.

I completed the USG Certification Course in Online Teaching over the
summer. In addition to other tasks, “release conditions” were taught to be used in that manner.

Ashwin.R.8946

Hello @Joel.J.4284

Thank you for reaching out to the Brightspace Community.

In Brightspace, Release Conditions currently operate on a visibility basis. This means that when a release condition is applied to an assignment or quiz, the item remains hidden from the student's view until the prerequisite condition (such as completing a reading) has been met.

While some teaching frameworks and platforms may support a "visible but locked" state, Brightspace's release conditions currently restrict visibility entirely until the criteria are satisfied. We completely understand how seeing upcoming activities as locked items can improve student engagement and clarify learning paths.

Recommended Workarounds for Visibility

To help your students see their full learning path while keeping access restricted, here are a few recommended strategies:

1. Use the Checklist Tool: You can create a course Checklist listing all readings, quizzes, and assignments for the semester. The Checklist remains visible to students at all times, providing a clear roadmap of what is required throughout the course.
2. Add Module/Topic Descriptions: You can include a short visible note or description at the module level (e.g., "Note: Quiz 1 will unlock automatically once Reading 1 is completed").
3. Use Start/Availability Dates (for timed releases): If you want items visible in advance but inaccessible until a specific date/time, using Start Dates (rather than completion-based release conditions) will keep the item visible in the Content list and Calendar while preventing students from starting it early.

If you would like more options, I suggest submitting a PIE item or upvoting one that fits your needs and your use case. Brightspace Community Idea Site: Submissions (brightidea.com)

Hope this helps.

Regards

Ashwin Ravi