1. How do I add items to the Gradebook?
2. How do I enter grades in the Gradebook?
3. How do students access their grades in Blackboard?
4. The Gradebook shows a lock symbol instead of a student's grade. What does this mean? How can I resolve this?
5. Can I use the Blackboard Gradebook as a replacement for my paper gradebook?
6. How do I download grades and back up my Blackboard Gradebook?
7. Is the Blackboard Gradebook related to the Faculty Access+ grade book?
8. Can I upload my spreadsheet gradebook into Blackboard?
9. Can I weight grades in the Blackboard Gradebook?
10. Can I exclude ungraded items from the total and weighted total calculations?
11. How do I turn off the weight grades tool?
12. Can extra credit be added into the Gradebook?
13. Is there a tool that keeps track of student progress?

How do I add items to the Gradebook?

Some items are automatically entered into the Gradebook as they are created in the course (e.g. Assignments, Tests, and Surveys). Other items can be included, but they need to be added manually. To do so:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Click on "Add Item."
• Name the item you are adding.
• Use the drop-down menu to select a category for the item.
• If you'd like to enter a due date, place a checkmark next to the Due Date option.
• Enter the total points possible for the item.
• Use the drop-down menu to select how the grade should be displayed.
• Under "Options" answer "yes" or "no" to each question and click "Submit."

How do I enter grades in the Gradebook?

Every gradebook item now has three data columns for entering grades. To enter grades, click on the column heading for any gradebook item, and then click on Item Grade List.

For items that are automatically graded (such as Blackboard quizzes or surveys), the three columns are as follows:

• Calculated Grade: This column is used by Blackboard when calculating grades automatically (for example, from a Blackboard online quiz).
• Override: This column allows an instructor to override a grade calculated by Blackboard without deleting Blackboard's record.
• Current Grade: This column clarifies which grade is displayed to the student.

For gradebook items manually graded by the instructor, the three columns are as follows:

• Manual Grade: This is the column into which an instructor manually enters their grade list for an assignment graded manually (e.g. a term paper).
• Override: This column allows an instructor to override a grade without deleting their original grade for the student's work.
• Current Grade: This column clarifies which grade is displayed to the student.

Note: Only one instructor or TA should enter grades at the same time to avoid grades getting overwritten.

How do students access their grades in Blackboard?

Students can view their individual grades in a course site by clicking on the Tools button and then clicking "My Grades." However, instructors must make sure that they have enabled this tool in their course site. To do so:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Course Options," click on "Manage Tools."
• Click on "Tool Availability" and make sure "My Grades" has been made "available."

Note: Only Gradebook entries that you have chosen to make available will be visible to students checking their grades. Instructors see all grades regardless of availability.

The Gradebook shows a lock symbol instead of a student's grade. What does this mean? How can I resolve this?

If a student has technical issues while taking an assessment, he/she may be prevented from successful submission of the assessment, resulting in a lock symbol appearing in the Gradebook. The instructor can clear the student's attempt at their discretion allowing the student to take and submit the assessment again.

To clear the attempt:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Locate the test in question and click on the lock symbol.
• Click on the View button to view a copy of the student's incomplete test. If needed, save or print any answers the student has already submitted for your reference.
• Once you have viewed the test and you are ready to clear the student's attempt, scroll to the top of the page and click the Clear Attempt button.

Note: clearing a student's attempt deletes any answers that were submitted during the prior attempt.

Can I use the Blackboard Gradebook as a replacement for my paper gradebook?

Yes. However, we strongly recommend that you back up the Blackbaord Gradebook regularly, either by printing the spreadsheet view or by exporting the gradebook as an Excel-compatible file.

How do I download grades and back up my Blackboard Gradebook?

The Blackboard Gradebook can be downloaded and saved into an Excel spreadsheet, allowing instructors to keep a backup of recorded grades. To download the gradebook:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Click on "Download Grades" and select "Comma" as the delimiter file type.
• Click "Submit."
• On the next screen, click the "Download" button and choose a place on your computer to save the file.

Note: It is highly recommended that instructors back up their Gradebook regularly.

Is the Blackboard Gradebook related to the Faculty Access+ grade book?

No. The Blackboard Gradebook has no correlation with the Faculty Access+ grade book. In order for a student's Blackboard grade to enter in the official university records, the faculty member must report the grade to the Registrar.

Can I upload my spreadsheet gradebook into Blackboard?

Yes. However, the upload feature in Blackboard requires that both your spreadsheet and Blackboard Gradebook have the same student names listed. Errors will occur if they are not identical. Therefore, it is highly recommended to first download the Blackboard Gradebook to automatically populate a spreadsheet with students' names (see How do I download grades and back up my Blackboard Gradebook?). Then, enter items and grades in the file.

Grades can only be uploaded one column at a time. To begin:

• Enter the grades you want to upload into the downloaded file. Make sure each column includes a name.
• Save the file in .csv format (.xls will not upload properly).
• In Blackboard, click the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Click "Upload Grades" and select the saved .csv file. Click "Submit."
• Select the column to upload and click "Submit." (If a column does not exist, select the last item, "Create New Gradebook Item.")
• Select the student(s) whose grade(s) should be uploaded and click "Submit."

Can I weight grades in the Blackboard Gradebook?

Yes. Grades in the Gradebook are weighted either by Item or Category. To assign weights to your grades:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Click on "Weight Grades."
• Then, choose either "Weight by Category" or "Weight by Item" and enter the percentages you'd like to assign.
• Click "Submit."

Note: The percentages in the Weight by Category option must equal 100%.

Can I exclude ungraded items from the total and weighted total calculations?

Yes. The Total and Weighted Total columns can be replaced with Running Total and Running Weighted Total to exclude Items that have not yet been taken or graded. Instructors that wish to replace these columns must:

• Click on the Control Panel
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Select the Total or Weighted Total column. (If you use Total Points to calculate your final grade, select the Total column. If you weight your grades, select Weighted Total column.)
• Click on "Item Information."
• Select "Yes" next to "Exempt items that have not been graded."
• Click "Submit."

Note: This feature has no effect if you use the total and weighted total columns for scores; rather, it is only useful if you use the total column for percentage or letter grade.

How do I turn off the weight grades tool?

Once the Weight Grades feature has been activated, it cannot be disabled. However, there is a workaround:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Gradebook."
• Click on the "Weight Grades" button.
• Choose "Weight by Category" and assign 100% to a category not used in the calculations (e.g. Other).
• Click "Submit."

Can extra credit be added into the Gradebook?

Yes. Create a new item in the Gradebook named Extra Credit, give it 0 points possible and display as "Score." Then, manually enter the extra credit points for each student. Students who don't earn extra credit won't be penalized.

Note: This only works if you are not using any grade weighting scheme.

Is there a tool that keeps track of student progress?

Yes. Performance Dashboard allows instructors to track progress of student work. It displays the last time students logged in, their course role, Adaptive Release criteria, Review Status for content items, and grades. The Performance Dashboard is found in the control panel under "Assessment."