Handitin – Electronic Submissions

ACM are pleased to announce the launch of Handitin, the new way to hand in written assignments at ACM for all Higher Diploma and Degree students.

It works using the student portal and provides students with the facility to hand in work from any internet connected computer terminal. No more printer ink worries, no more queues. Handitin is fast and easy.

After being piloted within ACM last term, the system fully launched this week and is now accessible to all Higher Diploma and Degree Students from the Student Portal homepage. Just click the Handitin button to start the process. You are no longer able to hand in written assignments via Student Relations.

Performance and Production schools take note : Where a module assignment contains physical media such as a CD or DVD, we are requesting that you hand in that module’s assignment in its entirety via student relations just as you always have done. For clarification, your personalised Handitin screen will tell you which system to use for each assignment that is due. In time, we will be developing Handitin and our assessment briefs to enable you to hand it all assignments via the electronic system.

You can submit your work anytime. Handitin is always open. Remember, though, you’ll have been given a deadline for submission. If you miss this deadline, you’ll still be able to use Handitin, but your grade will be affected as explained in your Student Handbook.

Once you’ve submitted your work to us, you’ll receive an email receipt that serves as proof of your submission. Keep this safe!

Handitin is intuitive and easy to use, but we have provided an instructional video and a detailed FAQ so that you can familiarise yourself with the system prior to needing it.

This is an exciting development for ACM that we hope will vastly improve your Student experience. We thank you for helping us through its launch.

What is Handitin?
Handitin is the new way to hand in written assignments during your time at ACM. It works using the student portal and provides you with the facility to hand in work from any internet connected computer terminal. No more printer ink worries, no more queues. Handitin is fast and easy.

Who can use it?
The system is currently accessible to all Higher Diploma and Degree students studying at ACM, Guildford. Diploma students can expect to use Handitin from Term 3 onwards.

What can I hand in using the new system?
Handitin is currently accepting written assignments. Where a module assignment contains physical media such as a CD or DVD, we are requesting that you hand in that module’s assignment via student relations. For clarification, your personalised Handitin screen will tell you which system to use for each assignment that is due. In time, we will be developing Handitin and adapting our assignment briefs so that all assignments can be submitted online.

When can I hand in my work?
You can submit your work anytime. Handitin is always open. Remember, though, you’ll have been given a deadline for submission. If you miss this deadline, you’ll still be able to use Handitin, but your grade will be affected as explained in your Student Handbook. Handitin may slow down at time of high usage, which will likely be shortly before the deadlines, so give yourself plenty of time to upload your work successfully.

Can I hand in via Student Relations instead?
Handitin is the new way to hand in written assignments at ACM. You are no longer able to hand in written assignments via Student Relations.

How does it work?
To use Handitin, you must first log into your Student Portal account. You should then click the ‘Hand It In’ button that appears on your Home Page and follow the on-screen instructions. Once you’ve submitted your work to us, you’ll receive an email receipt that serves as proof of your submission. Keep this very safe! Our new system is intuitive and easy to use, but we have provided an instructional video for those of you who want to check it out.

What file types and sizes can I submit?
You can currently submit Microsoft Word/Excel/Powerpoint documents, Open Office Text/Spreadsheet/Presentation documents, TXT, RTF and PDF files via the system. Our preferred file format is PDF and we would suggest that it is a good idea to convert your assignments into PDF format before submitting them. Converting to PDF helps preserve the layout and formatting of the assignment exactly as you see it on your own screen.

Why can’t I submit other file types?
There are thousands of different applications out there, making hundreds of different file types, many of them proprietary. It’s impossible for us to ask our markers to have them all, and so we’ve come up with a list of the most common that we can confidently support. If you use software that we don’t support directly, then we’d recommend that you export your work to PDF, our preferred format, before submitting it.

What about file sizes?
File upload sizes are set at a maximum of 50MB, which is more than enough for written work, but your Handitin experience will be quicker if you keep the size of the files you submit as low as you can.

Help! I’m seeing the wrong assignments!
Handitin is tied to your Student Portal account. If you are seeing the wrong assignments, the chances are that you are not enrolled onto the right course. Call 01483 500 800 for help with this, or email handitin@acm.ac.uk

Help! My Name / Email Address / Student ID / Course Start Date is incorrect!
Your details will be used by Handitin to attribute the work you submit to you personally. It’s therefore very important that you make sure that these details are correct before you submit your assignments. If they’re not, don’t panic. Handitin draws all of its information from your Student Portal profile. On-screen links are provided by Handitin to allow you to easily change these details. If you need help, though, call us on 01483 500 800, or email handitin@acm.ac.uk

Help! My upload is taking a while!
Maximum upload speeds of internet connections are usually a fraction of download speeds. It’s therefore quite normal to experience some kind of wait whilst your assignments are uploading. If you feel that you’re waiting too long, check your file sizes. Your Handitin experience will be quicker if you keep the size of the files you submit low. If you still feel you’re waiting too long, call us on 01483 500 800, or email handitin@acm.ac.uk and we’ll try to help.

Help! I’m getting an error message about a folder not being found!
If you’re seeing this kind of error message, it’s most probably because some of your personal details are wrong. Handitin uses these details to attribute the work you submit to you personally and will produce an error message if something isn’t right. Check your Name, Email Address, Student ID and Course Start Date. Degree Year 2 courses started in 2010. All other courses started in 2011. On-screen links are provided by Handitin to allow you to easily change these details. If you need help, though, call us on 01483 500 800, or email handitin@acm.ac.uk

Help! I’m getting some other error message!
Handitin is a new system, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that it works perfectly. If you’re seeing an error message and you think that the system’s at fault, call us on 01483 500 800, or email handitin@acm.ac.uk to help us put it right.