Adding Assignments to the Gradebook

If no assignments have been added to the Gradebook the Dashboard will look like this:

To add assignments click on the ADD/IMPORT ASSIGNMENTs link to jump to the IMPORT/ADD form where you can import homework from the course Homework tool, or add new assignments/exams, to the Gradebook.

To Import Assignments to the Gradebook:

1. Click the Add/Import Assignment tab in the Gradebook. (Click Gradebook in the navigation bar to open the Gradebook)
2. Click the down arrow to open the HOMEWORK drop-down list. The drop-down list is comprised of all the homework titles currently available from the section for the course. Make a selection from this list.
3. The TITLE, SHORT NAME, and DUE DATE fields are populated with the original Homework properties (TITLE, SHORT NAME, and DUE DATE). Edit the TITLE, SHORT NAME, and DUE DATE fields to update the information or leave the defaults. Changes made to these fields do not change the original homework's properties.
4. Enter the MAXIMUM POINTS the imported Homework will carry.
5. Optional. If you are weighting the homework, enter the weight percentage in the WEIGHT % field. A zero entered in this field will cause the homework grade to be ignored when the final grade is calculated.
6. Click ADD to import the data into a new SUMMARY/GRADING TABLE form. The title of the imported homework is shown in the SUMMARY section. The Student roster is shown with blank fields for grading the imported homework.
   • If you have multiple Homework assignments to import, click the SAVE & ADD MORE button. This will clear the IMPORT/ADD form so you can import additional homework without leaving the form.
     
     

To Add a new Assignment/Exam:

1. Enter the TITLE, SHORT NAME, DUE DATE and MAXIMUM POINTS the new assignment/exam will carry.
2. Click ADD to add the selection to the SUMMARY/GRADING TABLE form. If you have more than one assignment/exam to add, click the SAVE & ADD MORE button. This will clear the IMPORT/ADD form so you can add another assignment/exam without leaving the form.
   • When importing an excel sheet into the gradebook, you must use the same file you exported - you cannot copy and paste the data into another spreadsheet. There is hidden information contained within the exported spreadsheet that is required for the file to be recognized by the gradebook.

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You use this Gradebook page to change an assignment's title, short name, due date, point value, and weight percentage.

To display the Edit Assignment page:

1. Click the Assignments tab in the Gradebook.
2. Click the Title of the assignment to edit.
3. On the Grade Summary/Assignment page, click the EDIT link (in the Options column of the Summary grid).
4. Change the settings as needed. (For details on the settings, see Add/Import Assignment Page.)
5. Click Save to save your changes.
   

Note: Any changes made to an assignment imported from Homework will not be reflected on the Homework page.

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Use this procedure to enter grades for one or more assignments for one student in the [Gradebook|Using the Gradebook]. You can also use this procedure to send an email to the student or post a comment on the student's [Grade Report|Previewing the Sample Grade Report].

1. Do one of the following to Display the Student/Grade List page:
   • If you are on another page of the Gradebook, click the Students tab.
   • Click Gradebook in the navigation bar to open the Gradebook to this page.
     
     
2. Click the name of the student for whom you are entering grades.
   
   
3. On the [Grade Summary/Assignment page|Grade Summary Assignment Page], enter the grades in the Points column.
   
   
4. Click

   

   to save the grades.
   Stellar highlights any grades that need to be updated, and you can click the Save Changes button after entering each grade or all grades.
   
   
5. (Optional) To send an email to the student, click the student's name under the photo.
   
   
6. (Optional) To post a comment to the student's Grade Report, enter the comment in the Comment Text box.

• Type the comment or copy and paste it into the Comment Text box.
• Use the Format dropdown to select a standard style.
• Click a format icon to boldface or italicize text or to create a bulleted or numbered list.
• To add, edit, and remove links to websites, use the web icons.
• To copy text from Word but remove Word's formatting, first click the Word icon to clear formatting. Then paste the text into the comment.
• To view or edit the comment's HTML tags, click the Source button. Click the button again to return to the formatted view.
  

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Use this procedure to enter students' grades for one assignment in theGradebook. This procedure is particularly useful if you need to enter multiple grades for one assignment or if you also want to approve grades.

1. Click the Assignments tab in the Gradebook. (Click Gradebook in the navigation bar to open the Gradebook.)
2. Click the Title of the assignment for which you are entering grades to display its Grade Summary/Assignments page.
3. Enter the grade(s) in the Points column.
4. Click Save Changes to save the grades.

Stellar highlights any grades that need to be updated, and you can click the Save Changes button after entering each grade or all grades.
Tip: If you are also approving grades, click the Approve button for each grade to approve. To approve all grades, click the Approve All button. Once a grade is approved and SAVED (Click Save Changes), it will appear in the student's Grade Report.

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Once a Gradebook grade is approved, it is displayed in the student's Grade Report.

Note: For assignments imported into the Gradebook from Homework, the approval takes precedence over the assignment's posting date.

To approve grades in the Gradebook:

1. Click the Assignments tab in the Gradebook. (Click Gradebook in the navigation bar to open the Gradebook.)
2. Click the Title of the assignment for which you are approving grades.
   The Grade Summary/Assignment page is displayed.
3. Click Approve for each grade to approve.
   To approve all grades, click Approve All
4. Save Changes

Stellar records the approver's username and date and time of the approval in the grade's history.

You may also approve grades via spreadsheet and then import them into the gradebook.

• Export your grades into an excel spreadsheet.  Steps to do this are located at Exporting Student Grade Information.
• To approve an individual's grade, go to the "Approved" column for that student and change the value from FALSE (unapproved) to TRUE (approved).
• Once you have completed approving grades, import your spreadsheet back in the gradebook.
• Any grades you have approved should automatically have the Grade Status of "Grade Approved".
  

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Clicking an assignment on the Assignments page displays that assignment's grade summary. Across the top of the summary, Stellar displays the assignment's due date, maximum point value, class average, weight percentage, and ratio showing the number of students who have been graded. Clicking the graph icon displays the recorded point values as a bar chart.

Note: Stellar displays weight percentages only if they are specified in the Gradebook configuration.

The Grading Table lists the students, showing their section (when applicable), points (grade) and whether the grade is approved.

You can also use the Grade Summary/Assignment page to do the following:

• Enter grades in the Points column (click Save Changes to save the grades).
• Approve grades.
• View a grade's history by clicking the History button.
• Edit or Delete the assignment.
  
  

  Sorting and Navigation Tips

• Change the sort order of the Grading Table by clicking the Student Name, Section, or Points column heading.
• Click the Summary previous or next arrow to display the summary for another assignment.
• Click a student's name to display the Grade Summary/Student page.

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