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A variety of methods used for managing and sharing student grades have preceded current forms of online grade books. Today this process is largely accomplished through the use of robust Learning Management Systems.  In the past, managing grades online was mostly optional and at times even highly restricted due to security concerns.  Current learning management systems, such as iCollege (Desire 2 Learn), do a very good job of managing student grades.

Reasons to Consider
Advanced integration methods with course content such as quizzes, discussions, assignments, etc., provide measures to post grades, along with comments to students in a secure and flexible learning environment. Additionally online grade books are useful for online as well as hybrid and face-to-face courses, allowing the option of exporting student data to a spreadsheet for backup and/or further dissemination. These are some of the reasons why the iCollege grade book function  should be considered a viable tool for managing grades. Getting started early with setting up your grade book is an important consideration prior to beginning the semester.

Following are a list of  additional considerations for managing your grades through the iCollege grade book.

1.    Prior to the beginning of the semester, it is a best practice to setup a new grade book, or to import grades items and settings to your new course from existing courses. Completing this function in advance will allow adequate time for tweaking or adjusting the grade book to meet your current needs. Leveraging existing Grade Items and Settings that have been imported (along with other course content) for use in future semesters, in part or in its entirety, is a powerful feature that can save a lot of time and effort down the road.

2.   Consider using the iCollege grade book for face-to-face courses as well, prior to the beginning of the semester. The grades function provides seamless connectivity for student assessment: An example of this would be through the assignment tool, which can be used to assess written assignments, provide comments and feedback, and to post a grade for students to view immediately or a specified date and time.

3.    Prior to the beginning of a new semester, complete a through review and test your grade functions making sure that the grade book structure matches the information being presented in the course syllabus. This will derail any potential challenges that may occur from student questions regarding final grades calculations.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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