The exercise object is one of the most popular tools in ILIAS. It allows you to set learners homework which then has to be worked on and submitted as files texts, blog entries or portfolios. The finished assignments or protocols are then collected automatically by ILIAS and presented to you for assessment.

In Version 5.1, the exercise object has gained several small additions which especially make learning together with others easier and more effective. It has been possible to submit exercise assignments in ILIAS as a team for a while. Recently it has become easier to create exercise-teams with much less effort by simply selecting the team members from already existing groups. For example, if you offer a course in ILIAS that contains multiple groups and at least one exercise, then you can assign each member of a group to a team. This team can then work on and submit the exercise assignment together.

Peer-Feedback according to specified criteria

Learning success depends to a large extent on learners receiving constructive feedback on their contributions. On top of this, it can also be helpful for learners to slip into the role of the teacher every once in a while and give the other participants of an exercise feedback. As this not only aids in reflecting upon what has been learnt, but can also occasionally saver the teacher time, in exercises it is possible for both teachers and learners to give feedback.

To make sure that this feedback is of an appropriate standard, it is possible to set feedback criteria. You can formulate which aspects the feedback should cover and in which format it should be. Possible are all formats including simple yes/no questions, and the completion of specific requirements, up to detailed feedback in the form of free text. A new feature regarding free text feedback is the ability to now be able to set a minimum answer length. Additionally it is now possible to make peer feedback a prerequisite for passing an exercise. Learners only get the 'passed' status when they have given a certain amount of feedback.

If some learners do not manage all submissions and prerequisites in order to pass an exercise within the deadline, it is possible in ILIAS 5.1 to set a second deadline. If learners manage to submit their work between the first and second deadlines then their work will be marked as 'late' but will still be accepted. Such a grace period could be used, for example, to allow learners to pass who submitted late due to illness.