Grades management tools (Ultra)
Why would I use online grades management tools?
Using a central system like Gradebook has numerous benefits, such as built-in security and monitoring, fewer manual transfer errors and the ability to review mark changes.
What grades management tools and resources are available?
The Grade Centre provides an area within your Blackboard course to store student marks, while student scores from Blackboard tests and surveys are stored in the Gradebook automatically. You may also manually add scores and information for externally marked assessment. There are also resources available on general grades security and ensuring student results are secure.
1. Gradebook
Gradebook allows you to view marks from online Tests, Turnitin assignments, Blackboard assignments, Gradescope assignments, Buddycheck (Peer Assessment), Inspera, Discussion Boards and the ePortfolio system. When you create an assessment item in Blackboard, a column is either automatically created or can be configured to create a column in Gradebook.
Features
- Manually add marks and information to the Gradebook.
- Perform basic calculations such as average marks, total marks and weighted marks.
- Import and export of Gradebook data to a spreadsheet.
- Bulk upload MCQ test results.
- Upload grades directly to SI-net.
- Filters allow instructors to customise the view of Gradebook to make viewing results easier (Note: Filters do not carry across to the marking tools within an Ultra course)
- Grades history tracking and the ability to review mark changes.
- Gradebook column automatically created for all Blackboard tools and Turnitin.
Controlling the release of marks (Posting)
The following table outlines the process for controlling the release of marks (posting) for each of the Assessment tools.
| Tool | How marks are released (Posted) |
|---|---|
| Ultra Assignment | The Ultra Assignment tool can either be configured to post marks automatically, or configured to allow the Course Coordinator to manually post marks when ready. |
| Ultra Tests | The Ultra Tests tool can either be configured to post marks automatically, or configured to allow the Course Coordinator to manually post marks when ready. |
| Turnitin | The Feedback release date in Turnitin controls the automatic posting of marks in Gradebook. Marks for a Turnitin assignment can also be manually posted in Gradebook prior to the Feedback release date passing. |
| Gradescope assignments | When the "Post Grades to Learn.UQ" button is clicked in Gradescope, marks are pushed into Gradebook and are automatically posted to students. |
| Gradescope exams | Gradescope exam links are hidden from students (due to Instructor upload). Marks are automatically posted when the "Post Grades to Learn.UQ" button is clicked, except when the Gradescope exam links are hidden from students, in which case marks are withheld. |
| Buddycheck | When either of the "Publish Grades" or "Publish avg grades" buttons are clicked in Buddycheck, marks are pushed into Gradebook and are automatically posted to students. |
| Inspera | When marks are confirmed in Inspera the marks are transferred to Gradebook and automatically posted. |
| Inspera Exam | Marks for Inspera exams are manually uploaded to Gradebook and are manually posted when the Course coordinator is ready. |
| ePortfolio | When the Optional LMS grade % is saved this will push marks into Gradebook and automatically post the marks to students. |
| Discussions | Marks for Ultra discussions need to be manually posted when the Course coordinator is ready. |
| Gradebook column | Marks entered into a Gradebook column are manually posted when the Course coordinator is ready. |
Limitations
- Does not accomodate hurdles.
- Cannot do complex calculations.