Using the Gradebook

There are three features that support assessment activities built into BlackBoard. The Assignments tool helps manage the process of handing out, collecting, grading, and providing feedback on papers and other assignments. The Test, Pool, and Survey Managers support creation and grading of those feedback techniques. Grades are recorded and managed through the Gradebook feature.

The grade book manages scores for the class, and can be accessed from the Control Panel, in the Assessment section. Students can securely view their grades (but won't see any other student's grades). You'll see the class grades in a spreadsheet view.

Grade Book Items

Each assignment or test is a grade book item, represented by a column in the grade book. When you deploy a test or create an assignment, an item is automatically added in the grade book.

For other assignments, you have to add the item manually.  Like most sections of BlackBoard, creating questions in a pool consists of 3 steps: create or link to the content, select the display options, and submit. To do this:

1. Go to the Control Panel and click on Gradebook.
2. Click on the "Add Item" option in the toolbar.
3. Add the Name of the item.
4. Pick a category setting for each item you add. This is very helpful when viewing a gradebook with many assignments.
5. Modify the options. Note especially the "Points Possible" and the "Make item available to users" options.
6. Click Submit.

ID Note: Receipt Page When you submit something in Blackboard, you will get a confirmation page with an OK button at the bottom of it. When you get to this page, your content has already been submitted. To make changes, you need to click on OK and then go to the item you want to edit and click Modify. If you use Back to make changes, they will not be saved.

 

Entering grades

Grades for Assignments and Tests are automatically added to the Grade Book. Other activities will have to be entered by hand. Once entered, grades can be adjusted by you at any time.

Adding Grades can be done by individual student, for a whole class on one item, or for each individual student's score on an item:

• To enter grades for a student on all items, click on the student's name in the gradebook. Then click on User Grade List. Enter the grades and click Submit.
• To enter grades for an entire class on one item, click on the item label at the top of the gradebook. Then click on Item Grade List. Enter the grades and click Submit.
• To enter a grade for a particular student on one item, click on the current grade for the student (or the dashed line, which indicates that no grade has been recorded yet).

Modifying a grade can be done in exactly the same way. To modify a grade, click on the grade, item, or student to be modified, make the change, and click Submit.

 

Managing Items

To modify the order that items are presented or to modify the settings for an item:

1. Click on the Manage Items button.
2. To reorder an item, change the number on the left side of the item.
3. To modify the settings (the same settings you saw in the "Add Item" screen), click on the Modify button on the right side of the page.

You can also get more detail about an item and modify the settings for that item by clicking on the item name in spreadsheet view.

 

Downloading Grades to Excel

To download grades into Excel:

1. Click on Download Grades from the Toolbar.
2. Select comma as the delimiter type, then click on Submit.
3. At the next screen, note the file name BlackBoard is using to save the file, and click the Download button.
   • If a list of student names and grades displays, copy that information into an Excel Spreadsheet. Then go to the Data menu (in Excel) and select Text to Columns. Follow the steps to convert the information from BlackBoard.
4. Open the file in Excel.

 

 

BlackBoard Logins

Go to the BlackBoard site at http://blackboard.highline.edu

Instructors have two different usernames for BlackBoard. One is for you as an instructor. The other is a "student" login, which allows you to see what your course looks like for your students.

Instructor ID

Your instructor ID is the same as your network logon at Highline. It will be the first letter of your first name, followed by the first seven letters of your last name. An initial password will be provided at your orientation, or you can use the "Forgot Password" feature (click on the link on the BlackBoard login screen to use this feature).

Student ID

Your student ID allows you to see how your courses will look to students. The username follows the pattern that all student users follow. It will be the first seven letters of your first name, followed by the first seven letters of your last name. Click on the "Forgot Password" link on the BlackBoard login screen to get your student password. Remember to use your student username when filling out the Forgot Password form!

For details, see the ICC Help page at http://flightline.highline.edu/ic/ichelp.phppasswords.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick Reference Guide

BlackBoard URL

• http://blackboard.highline.edu

Faculty Resources

• Faculty information: http://flightline.highline.edu/blackboard
• For assistance with student accounts, contact the ICC Help Desk.
• For assistance with building courses and using BlackBoard features, contact Instructional Design at id@highline.edu.

Student Resources

• Password and technical support information (http://flightline.highline.edu/ic/ichelp.php)
• Account and other problems: ICC Help Desk at icchelp@highline.edu, 206-870-4880