Step-By-Step
Grading Items
(Text version)

1. Blackboard provides instructors and TAs a Gradebook function which allows them to track, calculate and post student grades. To access the Blackboard gradebook;

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Go to Control Panel / Gradebook. This will display the Gradebook's View Spreadsheet form

2. There are a number of ways to assign a grade to a student.

• Click on the name of the graded item located at the top of the column. This will display the Item Options menu for that item. Click on the Item Grade List link. This will display the View Item Grades form for that item. In the first column on the left are the names of all of the students having an account on the course site. The last column on the right is available to add or modify grades. Type in a grade for each student based on the display type you selected for this item. When finished, click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the grades have been updated. Click on the "OK" button and the gradebook spreadsheet will be displayed with the grades listed.
  
• A second and more circuitous way to reach the View Item Grades form to add grades to an item is to go to Control Panel / Gradebook Views. This will display the Gradebook views page. Click on the "View by Item" link. This will display the "View Grades by Gradebook Item" page. Click on the name of the item, under "item name", that you want to view or grade. This will display the Items Options menu for that item. Click on the "Item Grade List" link. This will display the View Item Grades form for that item.
  
• You can grade or change a single students grade by clicking on the "cell" in the Gradebook spreadsheet for that particular student and item. This will display the Modify Grade form for that student and that item. You can enter or change the grade listed and click on "Submit".
  
• You can view or change the full range of grades for a particular student by clicking on the student's name in the spreadsheet. This displays the User Options menu for that student. Click on the "User Grade List" link. This displays the View User Grade form. You can make any change you want here, then click on "Submit".
• You can also view or change the full range of grades for a particular student by going to Control Panel / Gradebook Views. This will display the Gradebook views page. Click on the "View by User " link. This will display the "View Grades by User " page. Click on the student's name. This will display the User Options for that student. Click on the "User Grade List" link. This will display all of the grades issued to that student. You can make any change you want here, then click on "Submit".
  
• To make a grade available for student viewing click on the name of the graded item on the top of the column in the gradebook spreadsheet. This will display the Item Options for that grade item. Click on the "Item Information" link. This will display the Add/Modify gradebook item form. Select the "Yes" radio button next to "Make item visible to students". Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the item has been updated. Note that all items that are NOT visible to students have an asterisk (*) next to their name in the spreadsheet.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu