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Getting Started for Instructors ​

Welcome to EaseLabs! We're thrilled to have you on board. Our platform is designed to simplify managing your programming labs and enrich your students' learning journey. This guide will walk you through the essential first steps and key features of EaseLabs.

Initial Setup ​

Getting started with EaseLabs is straightforward. Here’s how to set up your account and environment:

  1. Create an Account: If you haven't already, sign up for an instructor account on the EaseLabs platform.
  2. Install CLI (Optional): While most functionalities are available through our web interface, our Command Line Interface (CLI) can be useful for advanced tasks and automation. For instructions on installing the CLI, please refer to the Getting Started guide.
  3. Familiarize Yourself with the Platform: Take a few minutes to explore the EaseLabs interface. We'vedesigned it to be intuitive, but a quick look around will help you get comfortable.

Overview of the Instructor Dashboard ​

Once you log in, you'll be greeted by your Instructor Dashboard. Think of this as your command center for everything EaseLabs. It’s designed to give you a clear overview and quick access to all necessary tools for managing your Subjects, Assignments, and students, as well as tracking their progress.

The dashboard typically provides:

  • An at-a-glance summary of your active Subjects.
  • Convenient shortcuts to create new Subjects and Assignments.
  • Timely notifications for student submissions and other important events.
  • A snapshot of recent activity and key performance analytics.

How to Create and Manage a Subject ​

Subjects are the primary way to organize your Assignments and students.

  1. Create a New Subject:

    • Navigate to the "Subjects" section from your dashboard.
    • Click on "Create New Subject."
    • Fill in the Subject details, such as the Subject name, code, description, and academic term.
    • Click "Create."

  2. Manage Existing Subjects:

    • From the "Subjects" section, you can view a list of all your Subjects.
    • Click on a Subject to edit its details, add Assignments, or manage enrolled students.
    • You can also archive or delete Subjects that are no longer active.

How to Add or Invite Students to a Subject ​

Once your Subject is set up, you can add students:

  1. Navigate to Your Subject: Select the Subject to which you want to add students.
  2. Access Student Management: Look for an "Enroll Students," "Manage Students," or "Invite Students" section.
  3. Add Students:
    • Manual Enrollment: You might be able to add students by entering their email addresses or university IDs.
    • Invite via Link: Generate a unique invitation link for your Subject. Share this link with your students, and they can enroll themselves.
    • LMS Integration: If your institution uses an LMS (Learning Management System) that integrates with EaseLabs, you might be able to sync your student roster directly.

Ensure your students have created their EaseLabs accounts or guide them to do so.

Steps for Creating a New Assignment ​

EaseLabs makes it easy to create diverse programming Assignments.

  1. Go to Your Subject: Select the Subject for which you want to create an Assignment.
  2. Create New Assignment: Find the "Assignments" section and click "Create New Assignment."
  3. Define Assignment Details:
    • Provide a clear title and detailed instructions for the assignment.
    • Specify the programming language(s) allowed.
    • Set the due date and time.
    • Assign a difficulty level if applicable.
  4. Add Starter Code (Optional): You can provide students with initial code templates to get them started.
  5. Configure Test Cases: Define public and hidden test cases that will be used to automatically evaluate student submissions. This is a crucial step for automated grading.
  6. AI-Powered Generation (Optional): Leverage AI to help generate problem descriptions, hints, and learning objectives. (As mentioned in What is EaseLabs?)
  7. Save and Publish: Once you're satisfied, save the assignment. You can choose to publish it immediately or schedule it for a later date.

For more in-depth information on assignment creation and management, refer to our Features page. For an overview of all capabilities including plagiarism detection and AI-powered assistance, see What is EaseLabs?.

How to Review Student Submissions ​

When students submit their work, you can review it directly on the EaseLabs platform.

  1. Access Submissions:
    • From your dashboard, you might see notifications for new submissions.
    • Alternatively, navigate to the specific Assignment within a Subject.
    • You'll find a list of student submissions, along with their submission times and initial auto-grading results.
  2. View Submission Details: Click on a student's submission to see their code, the output of the test cases, and any error messages.
  3. Provide Feedback: Use the integrated commenting tools to provide specific feedback on their code and approach.

How to Grade Assignments ​

EaseLabs offers powerful auto-grading capabilities and allows for custom grading criteria.

  1. Automated Grading: Based on the test cases you defined, EaseLabs will automatically run student code and provide an initial grade or pass/fail status.
  2. Manual Review and Grade Adjustment:
    • Review the auto-graded results.
    • If needed, manually adjust grades based on code quality, adherence to instructions, or other criteria not covered by automated tests.
    • You can leave detailed comments explaining any grade adjustments.
  3. Custom Grading Criteria: Define custom grading rubrics based on various factors like test case performance, code quality, submission timing, and specific pass/fail rules. For more details on setting up custom grading, refer to the Features page.
  4. Release Grades: Once you've finalized the grades, you can release them to students.

How to View Analytics and Student Progress ​

EaseLabs provides valuable insights into student performance and progress.

  1. Access Analytics: Look for an "Analytics," "Reports," or "Student Progress" section in your dashboard or within a specific course.
  2. View Key Metrics: Track metrics such as:
    • Overall class performance on Assignments.
    • Individual student progress and scores.
    • Common errors or challenging areas for students (Error rates).
    • Average time taken to complete Assignments.
    • Number of test runs per student, which can indicate engagement or difficulty.
    • Grade distribution for Assignments and Subjects.
  3. Identify At-Risk Students: Use the analytics to identify students who might be struggling and may require additional support.
  4. Improve Instruction: Gain insights from the data to refine your teaching methods and assignment designs for future courses.

As highlighted on our Features page, these smart analytics help you understand student performance in real-time, enabling you to provide timely support and adapt your teaching strategies.

We hope this guide helps you get started smoothly with EaseLabs. Our mission is to empower you to manage your programming labs with greater ease and effectiveness. Should you have any questions or require further assistance, please consult our comprehensive documentation or reach out to our dedicated support team. Happy teaching!