As a Tutor on the College E-Learning, you are the primary educator responsible for guiding students through their theological studies.
Your core responsibilities include:
Responsibility
Description
Subject Teaching
You are assigned to specific subjects within specific territories. You can only manage content and students for your assigned subjects.
Assignment Marking
Review and score student assignment submissions. Your marks are subject to Admin final approval.
Exam Creation
Create MCQ (multiple-choice) and essay/downloadable exam papers for your subjects. All exams require Admin approval before becoming visible to students.
Reading Materials
Upload PDF and Word documents as reading materials or assignment briefs for students in your subjects.
Student Communication
Communicate with students, ETOs, and Admins via the built-in real-time chat system.
Territory assignment: You are assigned to one or more territories (e.g., Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi). You will only see students and data relevant to your territory and subject assignments.
1.2 System Requirements
Web Admin (recommended for full functionality):
Requirement
Minimum
Browser
Google Chrome 90+, Mozilla Firefox 88+, Microsoft Edge 90+, or Safari 15+
Internet
Stable broadband connection
Screen Resolution
1280 x 720 or higher
JavaScript
Must be enabled
Mobile App:
Requirement
Minimum
Android
Android 8.0 or higher
iOS
iOS 14.0 or higher
Storage
At least 100 MB free space
Internet
Wi-Fi or mobile data connection
1.3 Logging In
The platform uses a 3-step authentication process for security.
Step 1 -- Enter Credentials
Open the platform in your browser at the provided URL, or open the College mobile app.
Enter your email address (or username) in the "Email" field.
Enter your password in the "Password" field.
Click Login (web) or tap Sign In (mobile).
Step 2 -- OTP Verification
After entering valid credentials, the system sends a one-time authentication code (OTP) to your registered email or phone.
Enter the OTP code in the verification field.
Click Verify to proceed.
Step 3 -- Password Change (first login only)
If this is your first login, or if an administrator has reset your password, you will be prompted to set a new password.
Enter your new password (must meet the platform's security requirements).
Confirm the new password.
Click Change Password to complete.
After successful authentication, you will be redirected to the Tutor Dashboard.
Tip: If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" option on the login screen. A new temporary password will be sent to your registered email address.
1.4 Web Admin Access
After login, Tutors are automatically redirected to the Tutor Dashboard. The web admin interface provides full access to all tutor features including assignment marking, exam management, material uploads, student lists, and chat.
1.5 Mobile App Access
Download the College E-Learning app from the Google Play Store (Android) or the Apple App Store (iOS). Use the same credentials you use for the web admin. After login, the app detects your Tutor role and displays the tutor-specific interface.
1.6 Navigation
Web Admin Sidebar
The left sidebar displays six navigation items specific to your Tutor role:
Menu Item
Icon
Description
Dashboard
Home
Overview with stats and quick actions
Assignments
Pencil
View and mark student assignments
Exams
Document
Create and manage exam papers
Students
Academic Cap
View students enrolled in your subjects
Materials
Upload Arrow
Upload reading materials and assignments
Chat
Chat Bubble
Real-time messaging
The sidebar also displays your name and role ("Tutor") at the bottom, along with your initials avatar.
Mobile App Bottom Navigation
The mobile app uses a bottom navigation bar with five tabs:
Tab
Icon
Description
Home
Dashboard
Tutor dashboard with stats and quick actions
Assignments
Assignment
Pending assignment marking
Exams
Quiz
Exam paper management
Students
People
Student list for your subjects
More
Ellipsis
Materials, chat, profile, theme, language, and logout
2. Tutor Dashboard
The Tutor Dashboard is your landing page after login. It provides an at-a-glance overview of your workload and quick access to common tasks.
2.1 Statistics Cards
Three statistics cards are displayed at the top of the dashboard:
Card
Color
Description
Pending Assignments
Yellow
The total number of student assignments awaiting your marking
My Subjects
Blue
The number of subjects currently assigned to you
My Students
Green
The total number of students enrolled in your subjects
These numbers update automatically each time you load the dashboard.
2.2 Pending Marking List
Below the statistics cards, the left panel displays a Pending Marking list showing the 5 most recent assignments awaiting your review. Each entry shows:
Student name -- the name of the student who submitted the assignment
Subject -- which subject the assignment belongs to
Submission date -- when the student uploaded the assignment
Status badge -- the current marking status
If there are more than 5 pending assignments, a "View all [N] pending" link appears at the bottom, directing you to the full Assignments page.
2.3 Quick Actions
The right panel provides four quick-action buttons:
Action
Color
Navigates To
Mark Assignments
Yellow
Assignments page
Manage Exams
Blue
Exams page
Upload Material
Green
Materials page
Student List
Purple
Students page
Click any button to navigate directly to that section.
3. Assignment Management
The Assignment Management page is where you review and mark student submissions. This is one of your most frequently used pages.
3.1 Viewing Pending Assignments
The page displays a table of all assignments pending your review with the following columns:
Column
Description
Student
Student's full name and admission number (displayed in smaller text below the name)
Subject
The subject this assignment belongs to
Submitted
The date the student uploaded the assignment
Status
Current marking status shown as a color-coded badge
Marks
The score you have awarded (or a dash if not yet marked)
Actions
A "Mark" button to begin marking
3.2 Understanding Assignment Statuses
Assignments follow a workflow with specific statuses:
Status
Meaning
New
Student has submitted the assignment; it is awaiting tutor marking
Marked by Tutor
You (the tutor) have entered a score; awaiting Admin review
Returned for Revision
Admin has returned the assignment to you for re-marking
Approved
Admin has approved your marking; the score is finalized
3.3 Downloading Student Submissions
Before marking, you may need to review the student's submitted file:
Navigate to the Assignments page.
Locate the assignment row in the table.
Click on the student's submission link or the file name to download the submitted PDF.
Note: Students submit assignments as PDF or Word documents. Word documents are automatically converted to PDF upon submission by the system.
3.4 Marking Assignments
Follow these steps to mark a student's assignment:
Go to the Assignments page.
Find the assignment you want to mark in the table.
Click the "Mark" button in the Actions column for that assignment.
An inline score input field will appear in the Marks column.
Enter a score between 0 and 100.
Click "Save" to submit your marking, or "Cancel" to discard.
After saving:
The assignment status changes to "Marked by Tutor".
The score you entered is recorded.
The assignment is forwarded to an Admin for final review and approval.
Important: You cannot change a score after saving. If you make an error, contact your Admin, who can return the assignment to you for re-marking.
3.5 Understanding the Full Marking Workflow
The complete assignment lifecycle involves multiple parties:
Student submits assignment -- Status: New
Tutor marks assignment (enters score 0-100) -- Status: Marked by Tutor
Admin reviews marking
If approved -- Status: Approved (Final)
If returned for re-marking -- Status: Returned for Revision (Tutor re-marks)
Key points:
Your marking is not final until an Admin approves it.
If an Admin returns an assignment, it will reappear in your pending queue for re-marking.
Students can see their scores only after Admin approval.
4. Exam Management
The Exam Management page allows you to create exam papers, upload downloadable exam PDFs, and view the status of your exam papers.
4.1 Viewing Exam Papers
The top section of the page displays a table titled "My Exam Papers" with the following columns:
Column
Description
Paper ID
Unique numeric identifier for the exam paper
Subject
The subject this exam paper belongs to
Title
The title you gave the exam paper
Type
Badge showing either MCQ (blue) or Essay (purple)
Max Score
The maximum possible score for this exam
Status
Current status badge
4.2 Understanding Exam Status
Exam papers go through an approval workflow:
Status
Meaning
Created / Draft
Exam paper has been created but not yet submitted for approval
Pending
Exam paper is awaiting Admin approval (shown with orange badge)
Approved
Admin has approved the exam; it can be scheduled and made available to students (shown with green badge)
Important: Students cannot see or take an exam paper until it has been approved by an Admin.
4.3 Creating a New Exam Paper
The "Create Exam" form is located in the bottom-left panel. Follow these steps:
Select Subject: Choose a subject from the dropdown. Only subjects assigned to you will appear. The dropdown shows the subject code and name (e.g., "CF104 - Old Testament Survey").
Enter Exam Title: Provide a descriptive title for the exam (e.g., "Mid-Term Exam 2026", "Final Assessment - Module 3").
Select Exam Type: Choose one of the following:
MCQ -- Multiple Choice Questions. Students answer online and are graded automatically.
Essay -- Downloadable essay-type exam. You upload a PDF with questions; students download it, write their answers, and upload an answer PDF.
Set Max Score: Enter the maximum possible score (default is 100).
Set Duration (minutes): Enter the exam duration in minutes (default is 60 minutes). This applies primarily to MCQ exams for timed online sessions.
Click "Create Exam" to submit.
A success message ("Exam paper created successfully.") will appear if the operation succeeds. The new exam paper will appear in the table above.
4.4 Adding MCQ Questions
For MCQ-type exam papers, you need to add individual questions after creating the paper. Each MCQ question consists of:
Question text -- the question prompt
4 answer options -- labeled A, B, C, and D
Correct answer -- which option (A, B, C, or D) is the correct answer
To add questions:
Locate the exam paper in the table.
Access the question management interface for that paper.
For each question:
Enter the question text.
Enter the four answer options.
Select the correct answer.
Save the question.
Repeat for all questions in the exam.
You can delete questions that need to be removed.
Tip: Plan your questions before entering them. Consider having a mix of difficulty levels. The total number of questions and the max score should align -- for example, if you set max score to 100 and have 20 questions, each question is worth 5 marks.
4.5 Uploading Downloadable Exam PDFs
For essay-type (downloadable) exams, you need to upload the exam paper as a PDF file. The "Upload Downloadable Exam" form is located in the bottom-right panel.
Select Exam Paper: Choose from the dropdown the exam paper you previously created. The dropdown shows the paper ID and title (e.g., "#42 - Final Essay Exam").
Upload Exam PDF: Click the file input and select a PDF file from your computer. Only PDF files are accepted.
Click "Upload PDF" to submit.
A success message ("PDF uploaded successfully.") will appear if the operation succeeds.
How downloadable exams work for students:
Student downloads the exam PDF you uploaded.
Student reads the questions and writes their answers.
Student uploads their answer PDF before the submission deadline.
You review the submitted answer PDF and enter a score.
Admin gives final approval on your marking.
4.6 Viewing Student Performance
After students take your exams, you can review their performance:
MCQ exams: Scores are calculated automatically by the system. You can view individual student scores, which questions they answered correctly, and overall statistics.
Essay/Downloadable exams: You review submitted answer PDFs manually. See Section 4.7 for the marking process.
4.7 Marking Downloadable Exam Answers
For essay-type exams where students upload answer PDFs:
Navigate to the exam paper's results view.
Download each student's submitted answer PDF.
Review the answers against the exam questions.
Enter a score and any remarks/feedback.
Submit the marking.
The score then goes through the same approval workflow as assignment marking -- Admin reviews and gives final approval.
5. Student Management
The Student Management page lets you view and search through all students enrolled in your assigned subjects.
5.1 Viewing Assigned Students
The page displays a searchable, sortable data table with the following columns:
Column
Description
ID
System-assigned student ID
Student Name
Full name of the student
Admission No
The student's admission number
Email
Student's registered email address
Subject
The subject in which the student is enrolled under your tutorship
Status
Enrollment status badge
5.2 Searching Students
Use the "Search students..." search bar above the table to filter students by name, admission number, or any other visible field. The search updates results in real-time as you type.
5.3 Understanding Student Statuses
Status
Meaning
New
Recently enrolled, pending processing
Pending
Awaiting approval
Approved
Fully enrolled and active
Active
Currently studying the subject
5.4 Student Performance by Subject
You can view how students are performing in your subjects, including:
Assignment scores awarded
Exam results (if exams have been taken)
Subject pass marks (each subject has a defined pass mark)
Overall subject completion status
Note: You can only see students who are enrolled in subjects assigned to you. If you believe a student is missing from your list, contact your Admin to verify the subject-tutor assignment.
6. Reading Materials
The Materials page allows you to upload learning resources and assignment briefs for students in your subjects.
6.1 Viewing Uploaded Materials
The top section displays a table titled "Uploaded Materials" with the following columns:
Column
Description
ID
System-assigned material ID
Subject
The subject this material belongs to
File Name
Name of the uploaded file
Type
Badge showing either Assignment (yellow) or Reading (blue)
Due Date
The deadline date (primarily relevant for assignments)
Status
Current status badge
Max Score
Maximum score if this is an assignment; dash if it is reading material
6.2 Uploading New Materials
The "Upload New Material" form is located below the materials table. Follow these steps:
Select Subject: Choose a subject from the dropdown. Only your assigned subjects appear, showing subject code and name (e.g., "FPNT01 - Pentateuch").
Select Document Type: Choose one of the following:
Assignment -- A document that students must complete and submit. Students download the assignment brief, complete their work, and upload their response.
Reading Material -- Reference documents, textbooks, or study guides for students to read. No submission is expected.
Select Language: Choose the language for this material (English, French, Kiswahili, or Portuguese). This is important because students will only see materials that match their preferred language. If you do not select a language, the material will be visible to all students regardless of their language preference.
Note: To ensure all students can access the material, either upload the material in each of the four supported languages, or leave the language field empty to make it visible to everyone.
Choose File: Click the file input and select a file from your computer.
Supported formats: PDF (.pdf) and Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
Maximum file size: 100 MB
Automatic conversion: Word documents are automatically converted to PDF by the system upon upload.
Enter Instructions (optional): Provide instructions or context for the material. For assignments, describe what students are expected to do, any formatting requirements, and grading criteria.
Set Max Score (optional, for assignments): Enter the maximum possible score for the assignment. This helps standardize grading.
Set Due Date (optional, for assignments): Select the deadline by which students must submit their completed work.
Click "Upload Material" to submit.
A success message ("Material uploaded successfully.") will appear if the operation succeeds, and the new material will appear in the table above.
6.3 Material Types Explained
Type
Badge Color
Purpose
Student Action
ASSIGNMENT
Yellow
Work that students must complete and submit
Download, complete, upload response
READING
Blue
Study materials for learning
Download and read
6.4 Best Practices for Uploading Materials
File naming: Use clear, descriptive file names (e.g., "OT101_Assignment_3_Pentateuch_Analysis.pdf" rather than "doc1.pdf").
File size: Keep files under 100 MB. For large documents, consider splitting them into smaller parts.
Instructions: Always provide clear instructions for assignments, including what is expected, how the submission will be graded, and any formatting requirements.
Due dates: Set realistic due dates for assignments, allowing students adequate time to complete the work.
Organization: Upload materials in chronological order as students progress through the subject.
6.5 Reusing Materials Across Sessions
Materials are associated with a specific subject and learning period (year and month). If you teach the same subject in multiple sessions, you may need to upload materials again for each new session or coordinate with your Admin about material re-use.
6.6 Deleting Materials
Materials can be removed from student view but retained in the system. Contact your Admin if you need to remove a material that was uploaded in error.
6.7 Language-Based Content Filtering
The platform supports four languages: English, French, Kiswahili, and Portuguese. When you upload an assignment or reading material, you select the language for that content. This determines which students can see it.
How It Works
Each student selects their preferred language when they enroll in a subject.
Students who selected English will only see English assignments and materials.
Students who selected Kiswahili will only see Kiswahili assignments and materials.
The same applies for French and Portuguese.
Materials uploaded without a language tag (language left empty) are visible to all students regardless of their language preference. This provides backward compatibility with older content.
Exam Filtering
The same language-based filtering applies to exam papers. When you create an exam, the exam paper will be filtered so that students only see exams matching their preferred language.
Best Practices
Always select the correct language when uploading content to ensure the right students see it.
If your subject has students in multiple languages, upload a version of each assignment in every relevant language.
Coordinate with other tutors teaching the same subject in different languages to ensure consistent content across languages.
Important: If you forget to set the language when uploading, the material will be visible to all students. While this is not harmful, it may cause confusion for students who expect content in their preferred language only.
7. Chat
The Chat feature provides real-time messaging with students, ETOs, and Admins.
7.1 Chat Interface Overview
The chat page consists of:
Contact List (left panel): Shows your contacts including students enrolled in your subjects, ETOs in your territory, and Admins. Each contact shows their name, role, and unread message count.
Message Area (right panel): Displays the conversation thread with the selected contact. Messages appear in chronological order.
Message Input (bottom): A text input field with a send button.
7.2 Connection Status
A connection status indicator is shown at the top of the chat panel:
Status
Indicator
Meaning
Connected
Green
You are connected and can send/receive messages in real-time
Connecting
Yellow
The system is establishing a connection
Disconnected
Red
You are not connected. Click "Reconnect" to try again
Error
Red
A connection error occurred. Click "Reconnect" to try again
7.3 Sending Messages
Select a contact from the contact list on the left.
Type your message in the text input field at the bottom.
Click the send button (paper airplane icon) or press Enter to send.
Your message will appear in the conversation thread.
7.4 Communicating with Students
Use chat to:
Answer student questions about subject content.
Provide feedback on assignments beyond the formal marking comments.
Remind students about upcoming deadlines.
Clarify exam instructions or requirements.
Tip: For formal feedback that should be part of the academic record, use the assignment marking comments feature rather than chat. Chat is best suited for informal communication and quick questions.
8. Using the Mobile App
The College mobile app provides tutor functionality optimized for mobile devices. The app is available for both Android and iOS.
8.1 Tutor Dashboard on Mobile
After logging in with your Tutor credentials, the mobile app displays a dashboard with:
Welcome Section
A personalized greeting showing your name.
A "Tutor" role badge in teal color.
Quick Action Buttons (top row)
Button
Icon
Color
Action
Assignments
Assignment icon
Orange
Navigate to pending assignment marking
Exams
Quiz icon
Purple
Navigate to exam paper management
Students
People icon
Blue
Navigate to your student list
Chat
Chat icon
Teal
Navigate to the messaging screen
Statistics Cards (below quick actions)
Card
Icon
Description
My Subjects
Book
Number of subjects assigned to you
Pending Marking
Pending Actions
Number of assignments awaiting your marking
My Students
People
Total students in your subjects
Pending Assignments List
Shows up to 5 recent pending assignments.
Each entry displays the assignment title, student name, and subject.
Tap "View all" to see all pending assignments.
Pull down on the screen to refresh the data.
8.2 Assignment Marking on Mobile
Accessing the Assignments Screen
Tap the Assignments tab in the bottom navigation bar, or
Tap the Assignments quick action on the dashboard, or
Tap a pending assignment card on the dashboard.
The Assignments Screen shows
Page title "Pending Assignments" with subtitle "Review and mark student submissions."
A scrollable list of assignment cards. Each card displays:
Assignment title
Student name
Subject name
Upload date
A full-width "Mark" button in blue
Marking an Assignment
Tap the "Mark" button on the assignment card.
A dialog box appears with:
The assignment title at the top.
A Score (0-100) numeric input field.
A Comments (optional) text field for feedback.
Enter a score between 0 and 100.
Optionally enter comments for the student.
Tap "Submit" to save the marking, or "Cancel" to discard.
A success or error notification will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Note: The score must be a whole number between 0 and 100. Entering a value outside this range will display an error message: "Please enter a valid score (0-100)."
8.3 Exam Management on Mobile
Accessing the Exams Screen
Tap the Exams tab in the bottom navigation bar, or
Tap the Exams quick action on the dashboard.
The Exams Screen shows
Page title "Exam Papers" with subtitle "Manage exam papers for your subjects."
A "Create" button in the top-right corner (red, labeled "+ Create").
A scrollable list of exam paper cards.
Each exam paper card displays
Paper title and subject name.
Status badge (Approved in green, Pending in orange, Draft in gray).
Type badge: "Downloadable" (blue) for essay exams or "Online" (green) for MCQ exams.
Question count.
Two action buttons: "View" and "Edit".
Note: The Create Exam feature on mobile is being finalized. For full exam creation capabilities, use the web admin interface.
8.4 Student Lists on Mobile
Accessing the Students Screen
Tap the Students tab in the bottom navigation bar, or
Tap the Students quick action on the dashboard.
The Students Screen shows
Page title "My Students" with subtitle "Students assigned to your subjects."
A search bar at the top for filtering by student name or admission number.
A scrollable list of student cards. Each card displays:
Student initials avatar (blue circle).
Student full name.
Registration/admission number.
Email address.
Territory name.
Searching Students
Tap the search bar and begin typing a student's name or admission number.
The list filters in real-time as you type.
Tap the X icon in the search bar to clear the search and show all students.
Pull down on the list to refresh the student data.
8.5 More Screen
Tap the More tab (ellipsis icon) in the bottom navigation bar to access additional features:
Content Section
Item
Description
Learning Materials
Access and manage uploaded reading materials
Messages & Chat
Open the chat messaging interface
Account Section
Item
Description
Profile
View and edit your profile information
Dark/Light Mode
Toggle between light and dark display themes
Language
Switch the app language (English, Francais, Portugues, Kiswahili)
Logout
Tap the "Logout" button at the bottom.
A confirmation dialog will ask "Are you sure you want to logout?"
Tap "Logout" to confirm, or "Cancel" to stay logged in.
9. Troubleshooting
9.1 Common Issues and Solutions
No subjects assigned to me
Symptom: The dashboard shows "0" for My Subjects, and dropdowns for subject selection are empty.
Cause: Your account has not been assigned to any subjects by an Admin.
Solution: Contact your administrator and request subject assignment. Provide them with:
Your full name and email address.
The subjects you should be assigned to (including subject codes if known).
The territory you belong to.
Cannot see student submissions
Symptom: The Assignments page shows "No assignments to mark" even though students report having submitted work.
Possible causes and solutions:
Cause
Solution
You are not assigned as the tutor for the student's subject enrollment
Contact your Admin to verify the tutor-subject-student assignment
Student submitted to a different learning period (year/month)
Verify the current active learning period with your Admin
Student's enrollment status is not active
Check the student's enrollment status; they may still be pending approval
File upload errors
Symptom: Material upload fails with an error message.
Possible causes and solutions:
Cause
Solution
File exceeds 100 MB
Reduce file size or split into smaller documents
Unsupported file format
Use PDF (.pdf) or Word (.doc, .docx) files only
Network timeout
Check your internet connection and try again
Session expired
Log out and log back in, then retry the upload
Exam not appearing for students
Symptom: You created an exam paper, but students cannot see or take it.
Cause: All exam papers require Admin approval before they become visible to students.
Solution:
Check the exam paper status on the Exams page.
If the status shows "Created" or "Draft," the exam has not been submitted for approval.
If the status shows "Pending," the exam is awaiting Admin approval. Contact your Admin to expedite if needed.
Only exams with "Approved" status are visible to students.
Chat not connecting
Symptom: The chat shows "Disconnected" or "Error" status.
Possible causes and solutions:
Cause
Solution
Unstable internet connection
Check your connection and click "Reconnect"
Session expired
Log out and log back in
Server maintenance
Wait a few minutes and try again
Browser blocking the connection
Check that your browser or firewall is not blocking connections to the platform
Score not saving when marking
Symptom: You enter a score and click Save, but the score does not persist.
Possible causes and solutions:
Cause
Solution
Score is empty or invalid
Ensure you enter a numeric value between 0 and 100
Network error
Check your internet connection and retry
Session expired
Log out, log back in, and retry the marking
Dashboard data not loading
Symptom: The dashboard shows loading spinners indefinitely or all statistics show 0.
Solution:
Refresh the page (F5 or Ctrl+R on web; pull down to refresh on mobile).
Check your internet connection.
Log out and log back in.
If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.
9.2 Grading Guidelines
The platform uses a tiered grading system. While exact thresholds are configured by the Admin, the standard grading tiers are:
Grade
Typical Range
Description
A
80-100
Excellent / Distinction
B
70-79
Very Good / Credit
C
60-69
Good / Pass
D
50-59
Satisfactory
E
40-49
Below Average
F
0-39
Fail
Each subject also has a defined pass mark (visible in the student management and subject details). When marking assignments, keep the subject's pass mark in mind to ensure consistency in your grading.
9.3 Support Contact
If you encounter issues that cannot be resolved using this guide, contact the platform support team:
In-app chat: Use the Chat feature to message an Admin directly.
Email: Contact your territory's ETO or the College administration.
Escalation: For system errors or data problems, request that your Admin escalate to the IT support team.