Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

It’s the time of year again when school is back in session and organization is key to success. One way to stay organized is by using an online gradebook. Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your online gradebook:

1) Use a system that works for you.

There are a variety of online gradebooks available, so find one that fits your needs. If you’re not sure where to start, check with your school or district to see if they have a preferred system. If not, ask other teachers for recommendations. You can also do a quick search on Google to see what options are available, many of which offer free trials to do a test run too.

2) Keep it updated.

This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to keep your gradebook up-to-date. This means adding assignments and grades as soon as they’re available, and removing any outdated information. Keeping your gradebook current will help you stay on top of things and avoid any last-minute scrambling.

3) Be consistent.

When it comes to your gradebook, consistency is key. Use the same abbreviations and symbols for each assignment so you can easily scan and understand your data. This will also make things easier if you ever need to reference back to specific assignments or grades.

4) Use grade weights.

If your school or district uses a weighted grading system, be sure to set up your gradebook accordingly. This will ensure that each assignment is worth the correct amount and that your overall grades are accurate.

5) Utilize comments.

In addition to entering grades, many online gradebooks also allow you to leave comments for students and parents. This is a great way to provide feedback on assignments or to share positive notes about a student’s progress. But be aware, as using too many comments on grading assignments and tests can be overwhelming for students, so try to keep it minimal as much as possible.

6) Stay organized.

Part of using an online gradebook effectively is staying organized. This means having a system for how you’ll input assignments and grades, and keeping everything tidy so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Creating folders for each class or unit may also be helpful in keeping things sorted.

7) Use filters.

Most online gradebooks come with filters that allow you to view your data in different ways. This can be helpful if you want to see, for example, all of a student’s grades for a particular subject or all of the assignments that are due in the next week. Filters can also help you identify any patterns or trends in your data.

8) Compare grades.

One of the benefits of using an online gradebook is that you can easily compare grades between classes or subjects. This can help you identify any areas that may need more attention and make sure that all of your students are on track.

9) Generate reports.

Most online gradebooks can generate reports, which can be helpful for parent-teacher conferences or progress reports. You can typically select which data you want to include in a report and how you want it to be formatted. Some gradebooks have over 10 different formats on generating reports, and you can also generate custom reports with custom fields.

10) Get help if needed.

If you’re ever having trouble with your online gradebook or aren’t sure how to use a specific feature, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Many gradebooks have customer support teams that can assist you, or you can ask a colleague for assistance.

Zara Raza is the Head of Marketing at SchoolCues. She earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine, in 2019, and has written several blogs on technology, software, marketing, education, business, and more.

By alex