Sharing Grade Center Data

Overview

Instructors can not only record assessment data through the Grade Center, but they may share this data and other information with Teaching Assistants (TAs), Graders, Students, Observers, and other interested persons. The role of these users will determine what access they have to the Grade Center and Grade Center data.

In order to share Grade Center data with other users, the other users must first be added to the Blackboard Academic Suite. In addition to being added to the system, some users will be required to be added to the course, and some course settings will need to be adjusted. The sections below provide basic information on how to share Grade Center data with other users.

Sharing the Grade Center with TA and Graders

Once added to a Course, Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Graders have the same access to features and tools in the Grade Center as Instructors. TAs and Graders can view the Grade Center data in many ways by sorting and filtering. For more information on modifying the way data is viewed see Customizing the Grade Center.

TAs and Graders can create unlimited Smart Views of their data that can be saved and reused. For more information on creating and saving Smart Views see Creating Smart Views in the Grade Center.

Warning: If multiple users are working in the Grade Center at the same time there is a risk that one user's changes will be over written by another. To help avoid this situation, each user working in the Grade Center can create and save Smart Views of their students.

Sharing the Grade Center with Students

Instructors control what Grade Center data is released to Students and when it is released. Any Grade Center column can be shown or not shown to Students. Columns that are available are displayed in the View Grades tool, the My Grades course tool, and can be displayed individually in the Report Card module. Columns that are not available will not display in any of these places.

Grade Center statistics can also be made available to users or unavailable to users. If statistics are available with a column, they will be displayed when the column is displayed.

There are multiple ways to make Grade Center columns available or unavailable to users depending on the task or workflow the Instructor is engaged in. Follow any of these sets of these steps below to control the availability of Grade Center columns.

When adding a new Grade Center column:

1. Under Options, Show this column in My Grades, select Yes to allow students to view the column in My Grades, or No to make the column unavailable.
2. To Include this column in GradeCenter  calculations, select Yes.
3. Click Submit to save selections.

When viewing the Grade Center page:

1. Click the Action Link in the desired column header to open the contextual menu.
2. Select Modify Column.
3. Change the availability options for the Column.
4. Click Submit to save changes.

Sharing the Grade Center with Observers

In order to share Grade Center data with Observers, Observers must first have user accounts created on the system with a system role of Observer. Next Observers must be associated with Students enrolled in the course, and finally be granted access to the course.

Once granted access to the course, Observers can view available Grade Center data from their associated Students. Grades can be viewed by accessing the Observer Dashboard or using Observer Tools within the course.

Warning: To protect student privacy and comply with international, national and regional laws and regulations, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the United States, review institutional policy and guidelines before releasing student information to Observers or other users.