What is the Difference between Start, Due, and End Dates

Start Dates:

Students will not be able to access content, submit to a dropbox, post to a discussion, or take a quiz until this date and time is reached.

• If a start date it set, students cannot see any instructions that are set on dropboxes or discussion topics but if you set up your quiz or discussion to show the description it can be seen.
  
  
• Here is an example of what a student will see in a module when a learning activity has a start date that is in the future. The student will see it listed, but not be able to read instructions:
  
• Discussions can be set so that students can read the instructions but not post to the discussion until the start date by selecting the availability option "submission restricted before start date" in the date settings area.

Due Dates:

If you ONLY have a due date set, students will be able to access content, submit to a dropbox, post to a discussion, or take a quiz at any time in the course, even after the due date. 

• Dropboxes are the only item where you will see a submission flagged as late. Quizzes and Discussions that have due dates set will not be flagged as late.
  
  
• Due dates for discussions can only be set through the course content area, not submission review.
  
  
• It is recommended that you always set a start, end, and due date on Dropboxes that utilize Turnitin to prevent issues with reviewing Turnitin originality reports. 

End Dates:

• Students will not be able to access content, submit to a dropbox, post to a discussion, or take a quiz after this date and time has passed.
  
  
• They can, however, access their submissions on quizzes and Dropboxes. They will not be able to view any discussion topic threads or posts unless the availability options are set so that submission is limited after end date - then, students will still be able to read the contributions to the threat but no longer be able to post. 

No Dates Set:

• If you do not set any dates, the content, discussion topics, quizzes, or Dropboxes are always available to the student.
  
  
• You also have a choice to set only the start, due, or end date, or any combination of the three.
  
  
• The due date only option should be used when you do not want to restrict the student's access to content, discussion topics, Dropboxes, or quizzes but want to provide an idea of when the items are due.

Setting Dates on Modules:

• Be aware that setting a start/end date on a module does NOT prevent the student from accessing the learning activities within that module (any discussions, Dropboxes, or quizzes in that module will still be open).
  
  
• Students would still be able (if they know how) to go to the submission review area and access the activities.
  
  
• Therefore, if you are setting dates on a module, you will always need to set dates on any activities present in that module.