Blackboard learning system/gradebook
From ctowiki
Finding the grade book
The grade book is found inside the course from the 'Teach" tab. Choose the teach tab and then look to the course menu on the left for the item called 'Grade book'. The grade book contains the list of currently enrolled students in the class. Note that the field called User Id in the grade book is the WSU Network ID and the key field to the grade book. WSU IDs are only added to the Blackboard grade book on request. Requests to add WSU ID number can be sent to the eLearning help desk
Adding the My Grades tool so students can see their grade
In order for students to see grades, the grade must be released in the gradebook and the myGrades tool must be in the course.
Click student view tab in the course and check if the "myGrades" tool is seen there in the course menu at the left. If the tool is not there, go to the build tab and choose 'manage course, and choose 'tools'. Scroll down to find the my grades tool and check the box next to that tool and choose 'save' from the bottom of the page. If you do not choose save, the tool will not be added.
Releasing grades to students in the grade book
In order for students to see grades, the grade must be released in the grade book and the My Grades tool must be in the course.
To check if the grade is released to the students, go to the teach tab and the grade book. On the main grade book screen look to the top right for the button called 'grade book options'. That button has a drop down menu with the choice 'column settings'. Choose column settings.
Under the column settings screen, there is a spreadsheet like view of the grade book with a row called 'released to student'. That 'released to student' should be 'Yes' in order for the students to see the grades. This item is a toggle so if it says 'No', click the item to toggle it to say 'Yes' and the grade will be released.
Students only see their own grade not grades of other students in the class so this is a secure way to release grades to students.
What is in the grade book by default
The grade book contains the User ID, which is the WSU Network ID. This is the key field and if you upload and download the grade book, this must be present. In courses converted from WebCT 4, there is a legacy field of "midterm" and "final" that are in the grade book and cannot be deleted. Also the first name, last name and role are in the grade book by default.
WSU IDS and the View All tab in the grade book
By default the tab you are on when entering the gradebook is the grades tab. If you have requested WSU IDS to be added to your grade book, then use the View All tab. Choose the grade book tab called View All and scroll to the right to see if the WSU ID column is in your gradebook. To make WSU IDS show in the grades tab view choose manage columns and then set the row grade column to be "yes".
The grade book contains the list of currently enrolled students in the class. Note that the field called User Id in the grade book is the WSU Network ID and the key field to the grade book. WSU IDs are only added to the Blackboard grade book on request. Requests to add WSU ID number can be sent to the eLearning help desk.
Deleting columns in the grade book
To delete a column in the grade book, on the main grade book screen look to the top right for the button called 'grade book options'. That button has a drop down menu with the choice 'column settings'. Choose column settings.
The columns settings view gives a spreadsheet like view of the grade book. Find the column you want to delete, check the box above that column. Then scroll all the way to the left and look for the button marked "delete" to delete the column. This action cannot be undone so please be careful. Also note that columns associated with quizzes or assignments that use the assignment tool cannot be deleted with our first deleting that quiz or assignment from that tool first.
For example to delete a quiz column from the grade book, go to the assessments tool in "build" mode. Then delete the quiz using the action link beside the name of the quiz. Then return to the grade book and follow the above instructions to delete the columns from the grade book.
I do not see all my students in the grade book
Usually this is caused by the drop down selection at the lower right of the grade book screen(scroll all the way down and look way in the lower right). The default is to display the first 20 students in the grade book. To see all the students, change this drop down selection to "all" and choose the green arrow next to the drop down box. Beware if you have over a hundred students showing all at once is not recommended. See the screen shot below.
Adding and using custom calculated columns in the grade book
You can add custom columns such as calculated columns to the grade book. You choose the "create column" button on the top left of the grade book screen. To see specific instructions on how to add and use a calculated column choose this link.
Exporting and importing the grade book to a spreadsheet
Despite the button in the grade book view being called 'export to spreadsheet' and 'import from spreadsheet', the file format must be CSV (comma separated values) format and not XLS (excel format). CSV files can be easily read into Excel and saved from Excel.
Understanding csv file format
CSV format puts data values in a file separated by commas such as
bjones,999999999,Bob,Jones,Test101S01_PUL_091,02
Saving Files in the CSV format:
Microsoft Office Excel 2007
1. Click on the "Office" button (located in the top left of Excel)
2. Click on the "Save As" button.
3. A box should pop up titled "Save As".
4. In this box there is a drop down menu titled "Save as type:". Using this drop down box you can select "CSV (Comma delimited)" to save your file in the CSV format.
Microsoft Office Excel 2003
1. Click on "File" (located in the top left of Excel next to "Edit")
2. Click on the "Save As" option.
3. A box should pop up titled "Save As".
4. In this box there is a drop down menu titled "Save as type:". Using this drop down box you can select "CSV (Comma delimited)" to save your file in the CSV format.
Export
To export the student grade book to Excel, go to the grade book and choose the button at the bottom called "export to spreadsheet'. You will be prompted to save the exported file locally on your computer. The file will be in CSV file format and can be opened in Excel.
Import
To import grades, the CSV file must have the User ID field containing the WSU Network ID. The User ID field that is downloaded by export must be in the import file. You cannot just match by name. See the section of this wiki page above for information on saving files in CSV format.
Name is actually not imported back in via CSV, it will ignore the name fields.
Warning--Do not import back calculated columns into the grade book or the values will not be correct.
Any field in the CSV import not already in the grade book will be imported and created as a new column or ignored depending on which choice you pick from the drop down next to the filed. These imported fields will only show on the View All tab in the gradebook. On the import you would be prompted for those fields that do not match.
Screen shots on the import process are below
My TA cannot import or export to a spreadsheet
TA rights in a course do not allow the option of downloading and uploading from a spreadsheet. If your TA needs this option, you will need to switch the TA to a course instructor. To request a TA be changed to instructor, please choose this link to file a support request at this URL
Releasing grade statistics to students
To release statistics about grades to students, go to "column settings". Look for the row called "release statistics". Choose "all", "none" or "average only" to set what statistics to release. Click the text to change the option.
Weighting grades using Excel
To weight grades it is easier to do such calculations in Excel and then upload to Blackboard. See this page for detailed instructions.
http://wiki.wsu.edu/ctowiki/Blackboard_learning_system/gradebook/weighting
Matching scantron grades or WSU ID numbers and eLearning grades - merging 2 Excel workbooks
Please see this URL for information on using an Excel function called VLookup to macth scantron and eLearning grades.
http://wiki.wsu.edu/ctowiki/Blackboard_learning_system/gradebook/matching_scantron_grades