TAC
Winter 2o09 Email: TAC@oregonstate.edu
Phone: 1-541-737-3811
on the web: ht tp://oregonstate.edu/tac
Quick Steps
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Enterprise Computing
Get Help , Save Time, Systems (ECS):
An FAQ is available in the Support
Reduce Stress!
tab of Blackboard.
Blackboard administration:
Please do not invest much time puzzling over technology puzzles. Support@my.oregonstate.edu
If the solution does not come clear in 20 minutes, contact your
support resources for help. Use the time you save for improved
teaching and research!
Technology Ac
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Sort Columns By ll. Walk -up desk f Call: 541.737.38 e.edu.
Select (click on) a cell to enter ibrary. 11.
grade value from the Reposition columns ac
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keyboard. Use the Enter key categories, due date, cr ing to
to fix the value. ea
points possible, and di tion date,
splay name.
Customize Views of Grade Center Data
Copy Existing Grade Book to the New Grade Center Move and Freeze Columns Select Manage > Select Smart Views > Select Add Smart View >
Copy or write down the course ID to be copied to (i.e. Enter a name, type of view, and view criteria > Select Submit.
Quick
Select Manage > Select Organize Grade Center
PHL_201_400_S2010) > Open the course to be copied from > *To use the Smart View: Select the “Current View” drop down
Columns may be dragged up and down to desired
Control Panel > Course Copy > Copy Course Materials into an menu, and select the Smart View.
positions. Frozen columns stay xed as you scroll through the
Existing Course > Enter ID of course to be copied to > Select *Multiple Smart views can be created, which is rather the
columns. First Name and Last Name are Frozen by default. Drag
Grade Center Columns and Settings > Select Submit. point, since this allows you to see the grade center data in various
(hold the left mouse button down ) a column up to the “(Frozen)”
*You may copy parts or all of the course at any time. ways according to your course needs. A smart view is a display of
teps
area to freeze it. Wonderfully, you may do this with the Total
Interpret Grade Value Icons column. grade center data organized on criteria such as an individual column,
Select Icon Legend (lower right).
*The icon legend shows nine icons which indicate
quali ers for individual grade values.
Create a Grade Column
S *This is harder to describe than to do, though it takes
experimentation and practice to get the feel. If this interface does not
behave well, try a di erent browser (e.g. Firefox or MSIE).
Set a Column as Extra Credit
set of columns, categories, grading periods, hidden columns,
individual students, sets of students, groups, and more. Learn about
Smart Views by creating some. For example; create a Smart View by
setting Benchmark in order to display students who score less than
70% on a midterm:
Select +Add Grade Column > Enter the column name > Enter Reset a Grade Value Override Select Add Grade Column > Enter the column name > Enter total
Name = Midterm Trouble
the grade value > Enter a due date > Select Submit. Highlight the grade value cell > Select the menu arrows in that points possible for that grade value > Select “No” for Include this
User Criteria = Midterm (Score)
Modify a Grade Column cell > Select Revert > Select OK. column in Grade Center calculations > Select Submit.
Condition = Less than X (point value)
Select the menu in the column header > Select Modify *A warning message occurs to prevent unintentional *To change an existing column see “Modify a grade column.”
*For help with Smart Views, visit and contact TAC.
Column > Make changes, select Submit. overrides. Alternately, setting the Points Possible to “0" is a way to create extra
credit columns. Submit Final Grades from the Grade Center
Organize Grade Columns into Categories Weight Grades Add a Grade Column > Enter “Final Grade” for Column Name >
Select Manage > Select Categories > Create or modify Select Add Calculated Column > Select Weighted Column > Convert Grade Values to Letter Grades Select “Final Grade” for category (this step is necessary; category is
categories > Select Submit Enter the Column Name > Select columns and/or categories to be Select Manage > Select Grading Schema > Select Modify for the
the eld that Banner queries) > Select “Text” under Primary Display
*See also Organize Grade Center in the Manage menu weighted from the left elds > Select the arrows to move selected Letter grading schema > Enter values, letter equivalents, and
(Text allows for “I”) > Enter total points possible for the course
to select and modify grade item categories and grading periods. columns and/or categories to the right eld > Choose weighting percentages; insert/remove rows as needed > Select Submit
grade > Select Submit > Enter nal grade values (A-F, I).
values and options > Select Submit. *Multiple schema’s may be created and applied to columns:
Create a Weighted Grade Column *Move and submit the grades to the Registrar: Navigate to
*You may also create weighted columns that calculate the Select Manage > Select Grading Schema > Select Add Grading
Select Add Calculated Column > Select Weighted > Enter a http://my.oregonstate.edu > Select InfOSU (OSU Online Services)
weight for a set of columns or categories which calculate another Schema.
Column name > Select Columns weighting > Select the in the left column > Login > Select Faculty & Advisors > Select
weighted column or total column to get the nal grade. *To apply a schema to a column: Select the column header
percentage of the total for each Column > Select Submit. Final Grades Menu > Final Grades - Upload from Blackboard >
menu > Select Modify Column > Select Primary Display pull down
*Categories may be weighted. Print the Grade Center menu and the grading schema > Select Submit.
Select the term > Select the course > Modify grades as needed >
Report View: Select Reports > Enter the report characteristics > Select Submit.
Add a Calculated Column *Alternately, primary and secondary displays may be set to
Select Preview > Select the Print icon (upper left). *To automate letter grade conversion from score or percent-
Select Add Calculated Column > Select Weighted, Total, Letter or Text for manual entry of letter grades.
*Use less paper by Save As the le to html or text using your age, see “Convert grade values to letter grades.” To position the Final
Average, or Maximum/Minimum > Set values and select Submit. web browser. Select Rows Grade column for ease of access, see “Move and freeze columns.”
Enter or Change a Grade Value Spreadsheet View: Select Manage > Select Download > Open the Select the check box to the left of the student name > Pull down
menu from the top of the check box column > Select Sort.
Add an Assignment to collect files from students
Select a cell in a row/column > Grade value from the keyboard le with Excel(or another spreadsheet program), format and print. Select a content area > Edit View (upper right) > +Select - pull
> Enter from the keyboard.. *Bring a row for a student to the top of the grade sheet to
Download the Grade Center make it easier to follow that row. Note that you may scroll horizon-
down menu (upper right) > Select Assignment > Select Go > Fill in
Delete a Grade Value Select Manage > Select Download > Select Full Grade Center.
tally through the columns while still seeing the student names.
the elds as needed
Select a cell in a row/column > Backspace or delete from > Select TAB delimited > Select Download > Save le to your *You will nd a column in the Grade Center for that
Resizing your browser to a smaller window is a quick to scroll to single
keyboard > Enter from keyboard. computer; open with Excel (or other spreadsheet program). assignment.
rows.
*To download submissions: Control Panel > Grade Center >
Exempt a Grade Value Upload Columns from Excel/Spreadsheet Access Grade Center Statistics Find the assignment column; select the column header pull-down
Highlight the grade value cell > Select the menu arrows in Select Manage > Select Upload > Select Choose, locate
Show Statistics (average and median) for this column in My menu > Select Assignment File Download > Select Names, Select
that cell > Select Exempt Grade. spreadsheet le > For Excel les, select “Tab” > Select check boxes
Grades All, or Select Ungraded.
*To re-instate the grade value, use the same steps, for columns to upload > Select Submit.
Turn Column Statistics On or Off for Students. *The Assignment tool is an improvement over the Drop Box,
then select Clear Exemption. *Multiple columns may be uploaded.
Select Add Grade Column > Enter the column name > Enter total if you are using the drop box to exchange les, please give the
Change the Grade Value for a Test Attempt Check a Grade History points possible for that grade value > Select “Yes” or “No” for Show assignment tool a try. Content Collection is another improved option
Highlight the grade value cell > Select the menu arrows in Select Grade History > Select the time range from the Display for le sharing
Statistics (average and median) for this column in My Grades >
that cell > Select Grade Details > Select Clear Attempt to erase Entries from Past menu > Select Go.
or Modify Attempt to edit > Select Save. *When you change a grade value, the history for that item
Select Submit. Identify Performance-Challenged Students
*To change an existing column see “Modify a grade column. Control panel > Early Warning System > Select a type of rule
*Note the grade history which tracks changes, and displays. See “Change the grade value for a test attempt.”
Add Notes and Feedback to Grade Values (grade, date, last access) > Enter data and criteria for that rule >
comment/feedback elds for notes. Set a Grading Period Highlight the grade value cell > Select the menu arrows in that Select Submit > Select check boxes for rules to be applied > Select
Drop the Lowest or Highest Grade Select manage > Select Grading Periods > Select Add Grading
cell > Select Add Comment. Available.
Select Add Calculated Column > Select Weighted > Enter Period > Enter a name and date range > Select Submit. *An Early Warning System rule will generate and email
*Feedback may be viewed by the student. The text entry
column name > Select and move a category (not a column) > *Grading Periods may be used to lter views, calculate message to students identi ed by the rule. For example, a rule can be
elds may be resized by dragging horizontal and/or vertical.
Enter “1" in the Lowest or Highest elds, or use the advanced columns, and create reports. set to send email to any student who scores below a 70 on a midterm,
options > Select Submit. Hide or Show a Column Switch Views in the Discussion Board or to warn when a student has gone more than 10 days without
*To drop a single grade value, see “Exempt a grade value.” Discussion Board > Select Forum name > Select Tree View or List accessing the course site. Monitor and view warning messages using
Select Manage > Select Organize Grade Center > Select check
View (upper right) > Scroll to the bottom to Expand All or Collapse the Performance Dashboard in the Control Panel. To create Smart
Reset a Grade Value Override boxes of columns to be hidden or shown > Select Show/Hide >
All in Tree View.
Highlight the grade value cell > Select the menu arrows in that Select desired outcome. View in order to lter for Last Access, see “Customize views of grade
*To see all messages in an un-threaded succession (for a quick center data” (use the Investigate type and Last Access under User
cell > Select Revert > Select OK. *Hidden columns display with grey text and are not visible to
read): Select All > Select Go (bottom of the forum page) > Select Criteria).
*A warning message occurs to prevent unintentional students.
Collect (top of forum page).