Gradebook

From e-Learning Documentation

Latest revision as of 15:50, 23 December 2013

Last updated: 12-23-2013

Overview

There are two gradebook applications in e-Learning - Gradebook is the original tool and Gradebook 2 is a later addition offering a few more options. The two tools are integrated in such a way that any changes to data that you make in one gradebook will show up in the other.

Most people find Gradebook 2 to be easier to use as well as offering more functions.

Gradebook 2 will do everything Gradebook will do and will also:

• allow for grading using letter grades
• allow for weighting specific columns within a category
• calculate extra credit
• allow the reordering of columns and categories by “drag and drop”
• allow you to drop (excuse) a grade for an individual student.
• allow you to insert a zero in all columns until grades are entered. (Gradebook allows you to do this at the final grade calculation process.)
  • This keeps the Final Letter Grade calculations accurate even though not all data has been entered yet. If you do not choose this option, the Final Letter Grade calculations will not be accurate until all data is in and zeros have been entered into empty cells.

Gradebook 2 will not:

• allow more points than is possible to be entered in a column

NOTE: The reason Gradebook 2 will not let you enter more than the most possible points is that Gradebook 2 will calculate extra credit, where Gradebook will not. If you had an exam worth 100 points, but there was a bonus question worth 5 points, you would set up a column for the exam worth 100 points and an extra credit column worth 5 points.

Gradebook Set Up

There are four main ways that you can set up Gradebook calculations:

Option 1 - Create columns and enter points. The Gradebook will add all columns to give you a total number of points for the course. The final letter grade is based on the percentage of points achieved out of the total number of points.

Option 2 - Create weighted columns and grade using percentages. This would be used if you have single items that make up a certain percentage of the grade. For example, the course project is 40% of the grade, the mid-term exam is 25% of the grade and the final exam is 35% of the grade.

Option 3 - Create categories and grade using points. This option would be used to group common items alike, for example, a category of all the quizzes, or all the discussion posts or all the assignments. These categories will also enable the ability to drop lowest, drop highest, or keep highest item in the category. So I could have a category of 10 quizzes where I drop the 2 lowest scores, or a category of three exams where I only keep the highest of the three scores. NOTE: In any category where you are dropping scores, every item in the category must be the same point value. You cannot have a quiz worth 10 points and another worth 15 points. If you try to create columns worth differing point values, Gradebook will automatically change the Gradebook to whatever was the value of the first column you created.

Option 4 - Create weighted categories, place columns within the categories and enter points. For example, you assign 15 quizzes during the semester and the total of those quizzes will make up 15% of the grade. There are 5 assignments and the total of those assignments will make up 30% of the grade, etc. The drop lowest, drop highest, or keep highest options are also available in these categories.

NOTE: When you choose the weighted categories option, in the student's view of the Gradebook, they will see the categories and the weight of each category.

Option 1 - Create Columns and Enter Points in Gradebook

1. Within the course where you want to set up the Gradebook, click on Gradebook in the left menu.
2. From the options at the top of the page, click Gradebook Setup.
3. Under the heading "Grade Entry," select "Points."
4. Under the heading "Gradebook Items Display," choose whether or not to show Gradebook Items to students.
   1. As you make the columns, you can choose to create them released or not released. If you make them all released, but choose to not release them here, students won't see the grades until you release them under Gradebook Setup. This is a nice option for releasing all the columns at once without having to go to each individual column to release it.
5. Under the heading "Categories and Weighting," select "No Categories."
6. Click Save Changes

You will now create the columns for your grade data. Be aware that if you are creating graded Assignments and/or graded Tests & Quizzes and/or Assessments, those tools will automatically create Gradebook columns. You do not need to create columns for those items, but you have the option to create columns for Assignments and then associate the Assignment with the Gradebook column. If you use this method, you may enter grades either in the Assignment tool, or in the Gradebook. This process is also less work when importing the content from one semester to the next. You cannot use this same approach with Tests & Quizzes or Assessments. If you are creating graded Discussions or need columns for any other grade entry, you will make those items within the Gradebook.

1. Click Gradebook Items at the top of the page
2. Click Add Gradebook Items.
3. Enter a Title and a Point Value in the boxes provided.
   1. The Point Value is not limiting. For example, if you set the Point Value to be "10," it is still possible to enter "11" points for the student grade.
4. Due date is optional. If you choose to enter this, students will see the due date when they view their grades.
5. Choose to release the item to the student and to include the item in course grade calculations.
   1. If you do not release the grade to the student, this column will not be included in course grade calculations.
6. If you want to add more Gradebook Items, click Add Another Gradebook Item and another set of boxes will appear so that you can continue to enter as many Gradebook Items as you want. If you do not want to add another, click Add Item(s).

Option 2 - Create Weighted Columns and Grade Using Percentages in Gradebook

1. Within the course where you want to set up the Gradebook, click on Gradebook in the left menu
2. From the options at the top of the page, click Gradebook Setup
3. Under the heading "Grade Entry," select "Percentages"
4. Under the heading "Gradebook Items Display," choose whether or not to show Gradebook Items to students.
   1. As you make the columns, you can choose to create them released or not released. If you make them all released, but hide them here, students won't see the grades until you release them under Gradebook Setup. This is a nice option for releasing all the columns at once without having to go to each individual column to release it.
5. Under the heading "Categories and Weighting," select "No Categories"
6. Click Save Changes

You will now create the columns for your grade data. Be aware that if you are creating graded Assignments and/or graded Tests & Quizzes and/or Assessments, those tools will automatically create Gradebook columns. You do not need to create columns for those items. If you are creating graded Discussions or need columns for any other grade entry, you will make those items within the Gradebook.

1. Click Gradebook Items at the top of the page
2. Click Add Gradebook Items
3. Enter a Title in the box provided
4. In the box labeled "Gradebook Item Relative Weight," enter the percentage of the total course grade that this one item represents. For example, if this column is for your Final Exam and that Final Exam is worth 35% of the total grade, enter 35% in this box.
5. Due date is optional. If you choose to enter this, students will see the due date when they view their grades.
6. Choose to release the item to the student and to include the item in course grade calculations.
   1. If you do not release the grade to the student, this column will not be included in course grade calculations.
7. If you want to add more Gradebook Items, click Add Another Gradebook Item and another set of boxes will appear so that you can continue to enter as many Gradebook Items as you want. If you do not want to add another, click Add Item(s).

Option 3 - Create Categories and Grade Using Points in Gradebook

1. Within the course where you want to set up the Gradebook, click on Gradebook in the left menu.
2. From the options at the top of the page, click Gradebook Setup.
3. Under the heading "Grade Entry," select "Points."
4. Under the heading "Gradebook Items Display," choose whether or not to show Gradebook Items to students.
   1. As you make the columns, you can choose to create them released or not released. If you make them all released, but hide them here, students won't see the grades until you release them under Gradebook Setup. This is a nice option for releasing all the columns at once without having to go to each individual column to release it.
5. Under the heading "Categories & Weighting," select "Categories only." As soon as you select this option, the "Enable Drop Highest, Enable Drop Lowest, and Enable Keep Highest" options appear. Check any or all of the options you may want to use in any category.
   1. A box appears for you to enter a category. Enter the name of the category and what percentage of the grade will be assigned to that category. Indicate how many items you want to drop or keep in the category, if any.
   2. Click Add a Category to continue adding categories until you have as many categories as you need.
6. Once you have entered all your categories, click Save Changes.

You will now create the columns for your grade data. Be aware that if you are creating graded Assignments and/or graded Tests & Quizzes and/or Assessments, those tools will automatically create Gradebook columns. You do not need to create columns for those items. If you are creating graded Discussions or need columns for any other grade entry, you will make those items within the Gradebook.

1. Click Gradebook Items at the top of the page
2. Click Add Gradebook Items
3. Enter a Title and a Point Value in the boxes provided
   1. The Point Value is not limiting. For example, if you set the Point Value to be "10," it is still possible to enter "11" points for the student grade.
4. Due date is optional. If you choose to enter this, students will see the due date when they view their grades.
5. Under the heading "Category," choose the appropriate category from the drop-down menu.
   1. If you do not choose a category, the Gradebook Item will be listed under "Unassigned" and cannot be used in calculations.
6. Choose to release the item to the student and to include the item in course grade calculations.
   1. If you do not release the grade to the student, this column will not be included in course grade calculations.
7. If you want to add more Gradebook Items, click Add Another Gradebook Item and another set of boxes will appear so that you can continue to enter as many Gradebook Items as you want. If you do not want to add another, click Add Item(s).

NOTE: In any category where you are dropping scores, every item in the category must be the same point value.  You cannot have a quiz worth 10 points and another worth 15 points.  If you try to create columns worth differing point values, Gradebook will automatically change the Gradebook to whatever was the value of the first column you created.

Option 4 - Create Weighted Categories and Grade Using Points in Gradebook

1. Within the course where you want to set up the Gradebook, click on Gradebook in the left menu.
2. From the options at the top of the page, click Gradebook Setup.
3. Under the heading "Grade Entry," select "Points."
4. Under the heading "Gradebook Items Display," choose whether or not to show Gradebook Items to students.
   1. As you make the columns, you can choose to create them released or not released. If you make them all released, but hide them here, students won't see the grades until you release them under Gradebook Setup. This is a nice option for releasing all the columns at once without having to go to each individual column to release it.
5. Under the heading "Categories and Weighting," select "Categories & Weighting." As soon as you select this option, the "Enable Drop Highest, Enable Drop Lowest, and Enable Keep Highest" options appear. Check any or all of the options you want to use in any category.
   1. A box appears for you to enter a category and its weight. Enter the name of the category and what percentage of the grade will be assigned to that category. Indicate how many items you want to drop or keep in the category.
   2. Click Add a Category to continue adding categories until you have as many categories as you need.
      1. As you enter the categories, the system keeps a running total of the percentages you have entered and how much you still need to equal 100%. The system will not allow you to enter more than 100%.
6. Once you have entered all your categories, click Save Changes.

You will now create the columns for your grade data. Be aware that if you are creating graded Assignments and/or graded Tests & Quizzes and/or Assessments, those tools will automatically create Gradebook columns. You do not need to create columns for those items. If you are creating graded Discussions or need columns for any other grade entry, you will make those items within the Gradebook.

1. Click Gradebook Items at the top of the page
2. Click Add Gradebook Items
3. Enter a Title and a Point Value in the boxes provided
   1. The Point Value is not limiting. For example, if you set the Point Value to be "10," it is still possible to enter "11" points for the student grade.
4. Due date is optional. If you choose to enter this, students will see the due date when they view their grades.
5. Under the heading "Category," choose the appropriate category from the drop-down menu.
   1. If you do not choose a category, the Gradebook Item will be listed under "Unassigned" and cannot be used in calculations.
6. Choose to release the item to the student and to include the item in course grade calculations.
   1. If you do not release the grade to the student, this column will not be included in course grade calculations.
7. If you want to add more Gradebook Items, click Add Another Gradebook Item and another set of boxes will appear so that you can continue to enter as many Gradebook Items as you want. If you do not want to add another, click Add Item(s).

NOTE: In any category where you are dropping scores, every item in the category must be the same point value.  You cannot have a quiz worth 10 points and another worth 15 points.  If you try to create columns worth differing point values, Gradebook will automatically change the Gradebook to whatever was the value of the first column you created.

Enter Grades in a Gradebook Item (Column)in Gradebook

From within the course in which you want to enter grades:

1. Click Gradebook in the left menu bar.
   • If Gradebook Items were added when an Assignments, Assessments, or Tests & Quizzes was created, the grades will come from within the tool of origin. You cannot enter grades directly from the Gradebook, but must grade within the tool. From the "Gradebook Items" screen, you will see a column to the far right called "Grade Editor" that tells you if that Gradebook Item was created in a tool and which tool.
2. At the top of the page, click All Grades
3. Locate the column to which you want to add grades and click Details.
   1. If you want to provide comments to the students along with their grades, click Edit Comments at the top of the page.
4. Enter each student's grade along with any comments.
5. Click Save Changes.
   • You will notice that each grade now displays a "log" beside it. This log displays the history of the grade, who entered and/or changed a grade.

Enter Grades for a Specific Student in Gradebook

NOTE: iRubrics are now available for use in Gradebook. Rubrics explains how iRubrics works with Gradebook.

From within the course in which you want to enter grades:

1. Click Gradebook in the left menu bar.
   • If Gradebook Items were added when an Assignments, Assessments, or Tests & Quizzes was created, the grades will come from within the tool of origin. You cannot enter grades directly from the Gradebook, but must grade within the tool. From the "Gradebook Items" screen, you will see a column to the far right called "Grade Editor" that tells you if that Gradebook Item was created in a tool and which tool.
2. At the top of the page, click All Grades.
3. From the list of students, click the name of the student for whom you want to enter grades.
4. A screen will appear listing each column and providing a box for any grade that you may enter or change in the Gradebook. Enter grades.
5. Click Save Changes.

This screen also allows you to view this specific student's grades as that student would view them. At the top of the screen click (Student Name's) View of Grades. When you are done, click Return to Instructor's View of Grades for (Student Name).

Import/Export Gradebook

Though Gradebook or Gradebook 2 will perform the vast majority of common grade calculations, there may be occasions when you might need to perform a calculation using Excel. You may export your Gradebook to Excel, manage your grade calculations there, save the data as a .csv or .xls file and then import the information back into Gradebook for secure display to students.

Rather than creating a spreadsheet from scratch, you will want to create it by downloading your Gradebook template. This way your spreadsheet is properly formatted and contains all the information needed to easily import back into the Gradebook. You will want to wait until the semester has begun and your Gradebook is fully populated with students before you download it. Some instructors choose to wait until drop/add has ended.

From within the course in which you want export/import grades:

1. Click Gradebook in the left menu bar
2. At the top of the page, click Import Grades
3. Click Download Spreadsheet Template for Excel or Download Spreadsheet Template as CSV
   • You may also download the gradebook from the "All Grades" view, but that spreadsheet will include the "Final Grade" column which will need to be removed before you may import it back into the system. The best practice for downloading a spreadsheet is to use the "Download Spreadsheet Template" from the "Import Grades" view.

The file will either export as a .xls or a .csv file, depending on which template you choose.

NOTE:The file will include a column with the student UFID and a column with the Section Number in it, even though you do not see those columns in the Gradebook. Those columns have been inserted so that when you export your grades at the end of the semester for import into Grade-A-Gator, you will have the UFID and Section Number. But if you are going to re-import this spreadsheet back into the Gradebook, you will need to delete the UFID and Section Number columns. The only columns you want are the gatorlink username, the student name, the grade columns.

Add Columns to Your Spreadsheet

1. In the next available column in your spreadsheet, enter the column name and the point value using this format: Final Exam [100.0].
2. Enter grades in the column.
   • You may add columns, grades, changes to existing data, etc in your spreadsheet. Be aware that if you are adding forumlae in Excel, only the results of those calculations, not the formulae themselves, will be imported back into the Gradebook.
   • Your file should be in this format:

Import Your Spreadsheet into Gradebook

Changes you've made to the spreadsheet can now be imported into the Gradebook. Save a copy of your Excel file as a .csv or .xls file. In this file, it is best to remove all columns except the Student ID (gatorlink username), student name and the column(s) that contain the grade information you want to import. Extraneous columns (UFID, other grade columns, etc.) could cause problems in the file upload.

1. From the "Import Grades" screen under the heading, "3. Import Spreadsheet" click Choose File.
2. Click Browse and locate the .csv or .xls and double-click it. Click Continue.
3. Click Import Spreadsheet.
4. Verify that the information being imported is correct.
5. Click OK.

Your data is now in your Gradebook.

Import a Scantron File into Gradebook

There is another method for importing data, such as a Scantron File or a file from "Web Assign." This process will create a new column for your data. It will not put data into an already existing column.

When you take your bubble sheets to Turlington B-213 for scanning, you will be asked to fill out paperwork. Make sure you check the box stating that you are using e-Learning. This will make sure your results include the gatorlink usernames of your students. You also need to take a flash drive or a floppy disk for the files you will receive.

You will receive two .csv files from the scanning office. One file contains the students' gatorlink username and grade. It will be called "UploadExam1." The other is called "NoMatchExam1" and contains any grades that do not match a UFID entered on the bubble sheets. This could happen if a student entered his/her UFID incorrectly on the bubble sheet. You will need to manually enter these grades after you finish the import of the UploadExam1 file.

From the "Gradebook Items" screen in the Gradebook:

1. Click Import gradebook item from spreadsheet. This takes you to the "loading dock" - a place where spreadsheets are stored.
2. Click Upload spreadsheet(csv format) to Loading Dock
3. Title this spreadsheet, for example "Mid-term exam" and click Choose File.
4. Locate the .csv file and double-click it.
5. Click Save
6. Your spreadsheet will be displayed. If this is correct, click OK. Now the spreadsheet is listed in your "loading dock" area.
7. Click Import.
8. Select the column of data you want to import and click Import Selected.
9. On the next screen, enter a Title for the new column and a Gradebook Item Point Value.
10. Click Submit.

NOTE: If you have a file that will not import, verify that there are no duplicate usernames (common with Web Assign files). This tutorial will describe how to search the Student ID column for duplicate entries. You want to use the second option described. If there are some users no longer in the course or with invalid usernames, it will give you a warning, but will go ahead and import the grades.

Change the Letter Grade Scale in Gradebook

The Letter Grade scale determines what letter grade the student gets based on a percentage of points acquired during the semester. It is not possible to base the Letter Grade on points. The default is "UF Grade Scheme." This grade scale is not mandatory and can be changed to match your syllabus.

To set up the letter grade scale:

1. Click Gradebook
2. Click Course Grade Options
3. Under the heading "Grade Display" check the box if you want students to see their letter grade. NOTE: Letter grade is based on the work done so far. You will want to tell your students that the letter grade is a "rough estimate" and can change drastically if they do not complete all their assignments. For example, a student may have done really well on three exams and the letter grade shows an "A" so far. But if he doesn't hand in a significant assignment, his "A" can drop to a "C" overnight.
4. If you do not want to use letter grades including +/-, use the drop-down menu beside "Grade Type" to choose a different grade scale.
   • Letter Grades = A, B, C, D, and F
   • Letter Grades with +/- = not recommended. Use the default UF Grade Scale instead so as to remove the A+ and the F, both of which are not used at UF
   • Pass/Not Pass
5. In the box beside each letter grade, enter the lowest percentage a student can get and still achieve that grade.
6. Click Save

Prepare Grades in Gradebook for Submission to Grade-A-Gator

Once the semester is over and all grades are entered into the Gradebook, prepare your grades to be entered into the Registrar "Grade-A-Gator" system.

1. In the Gradebook, click on Course Grades. The student's grade is displayed, along with the points received.
   • If there are students who have not received a grade in some columns, you must let the Gradebook know that the student is going to receive a zero for that submission. If you do not do this, the system still expects that there will be a grade entered and the calculations will be inaccurate.
2. To add zeros:
   1. Click Set Ungraded Items to Zero at the bottom of the page.
   • You will get a message explaining that this process is irreversible. That is true, but you can still make changes to the grades once you have Calculated Course Grades. If you make changes to grades after the calculation, click Calculate Course Grades again to include your changes.
   • The instructor can override any grade by entering the grade you want to give the student in the "Grade Override" box. If you change a grade, a Log is created that tracks all changes.
3. Click Export Course Grades as CSV.

Automatically Prepare CSV File for Grade-A-Gator

The resulting file contains the student ID, the student name, the UFID, the section number and the final Letter Grade. This file must be adjusted to meet Registrar requirements. We have created a process that will format the file as needed for import into Grade-a-Gator. This formatting process will put your columns in the correct order, remove the comma from between the last and first names, remove column headings, change any grade of "F" to an "E", add Credit Hours and Gordon Rule if needed.

Click here to format your file. Upload your .csv file. You will receive an alert message listing the changes that were made to the document and anything you need to address, such as missing section numbers (for students that were manually enrolled, for example). A blue button appears to download your formatted file. You must download this file within 15 minutes or submit the file again. Files are erased to protect student grade data from unauthorized access. Open the file in Excel to validate and make any necessary changes.

NOTE: If you have a Gordon Rule class, all students will be given a "y" in the Gordon Rule column. If there are students in your course that did not meet Gordon Rule requirements, you will need to change the "y" to an "n" in the spreadsheet.

Upload CSV File to Grade-A-Gator

Once you have reviewed your formatted file, proceed with upload to Grade-A-Gator.

For Grade-A-Gator instructions: Go to my.ufl.edu > Main Menu > My Self Service > Enter Grades.

Please contact the Office of the University Registrar at (352) 392-1374 if you have questions about the submission process.

Grade-A-Gator CSV File Format

Section #, UFID, Name, Course Grade, Credits, (Gordon Rule)

• Ex: 1234, 11223344, Doe John, A, 3
• Ex: 5678, 99887766, Doe Jane, C, 3, Y

Submitting to Grade-A-Gator

Grade-a-Gator can be found in myUFL http://my.ufl.edu/ under My Self Service>Enter Grades.

• Download and view a powerpoint detailing the Grade-a-Gator system.

Make sure that you contact your faculty liaison for Grade-a-Gator in order to get further assistance in grade submissions. If you are unsure of who your faculty liaison for Grade-a-Gator is, ask your Department Office Manager or contact the Help Desk.