This lesson will guide you through setting up Gradebooks to support using the report card for teachers: Link Assignments by Standard, Mass Link Assignments to Report Card, and Setting Up Data Links.
Not all videos are needed or necessary for training purposes for all Gradebook-Report Card users. The Report Card structure and design, along with Gradebook practices and procedures, will determine linking.
Use this as a guide to facilitate the training in a computer lab. Show the videos before users log in or view one video at at time for users to follow along.
Before You Get Started
- For Gradebook users, it is highly recommended that users have entered assignments and scores within at least one gradebook according to your site/districts best practices and protocols.
- Some abilities and features may not be yet available due to the Grading Period or window assigned by your System Administrator.
- System Administrators or Illuminate Admin Team should have all report card requirements complete in order for gradebook linking to occur.
- It is highly recommended that linking be part of basic Gradebook training prior to Report Card entry.
Link Assignments by Standard or Report Card
Navigation: Gradebooks > My Gradebooks > Select and click desired Gradebook > Select Edit on an assignment title
The following options are based on Report Card Setup. Practices and procedures are suggested to be discussed prior to this step. It is not usual to use both options.
Link to Report Card (1)
- This feature is ONLY for Points-Based Gradebooks
- Provides users the ability to link to an area, not by particular standard, in the report card
- Easier setup for administrators, but not as refined or concrete for users
- Each assignment can be sent to an area of the report card as designed and will be part of an overall average with any other assignments linked to that area
- For example, Student A earned the following for Assignment 1 (5/10 points), Assignment 2 (10/10 points), Assignment 3 (4/5 points), and all assignments are linked to an area called "Literature" on the report card. The student's score would be 24/25 points.
- Linked Report Card areas will display and can be unlinked (3) at anytime
Link to Standards (2)
- This feature is for all gradebooks, however the ability to link multiple standards to a single assignment is a Points-Based Gradebook feature only
- Provides most efficient and concrete reporting using various Gradebook reports available
- Easier for users, especially for areas such as Reading/English Language Arts and Math, but most delicate for Report Card setup
- Each assignment be aligned standard(s) that are part of a particular field on the Report Card
- For example, Student A has three assignments linked to standard RL 3.1 in the area "Literature" on the report card. The System Administrator setup the area to include scores from assignments linked to RL 3.1. The scores for those three assignments will average to create an overall score in the area of "Literature" because they are tied to that standard.
- Linked Standards will display and can be unlinked (3) at anytime
Always Save (4) changes
For more information, visit the Create, Modify, and Delete an Assignment lesson in our Gradebook manual.
Mass Link Assignments to Report Card
Navigation: Gradebooks > My Gradebooks > Select and click desired Gradebook > Select Assignments > Select Manage Assignments
The following options are based on Report Card Setup. Practices and procedures are suggested to be discussed prior to this step. It is not usual to use both options.
Review Current Report Card and Standards Links (1)
- This feature is ONLY for Points-Based Gradebooks
- Click the number to review current links
- If changes need to be made, they must be edited or changed per each assignment
To assign or link multiple assignments:
- Select the checkboxes (2) of all assignments to link to an area on the report card
- Use Link to Report Card (3) to search and choose while area of the report card to link to
- Multiple areas can be selected, based on the needs and setup of the report card
- Submit (4) to save and confim data links
- These steps can also Mass Delete assignment when necessary
For more information, visit the Manage Assignments in Gradebook lesson in our Gradebook manual.
Setting Up Data Links
Navigation: Grades > Select Data Links
The following options are based on Report Card setup and structure. Practices and procedures are suggested to be discussed prior to this step. It is usual to use both options based on the report card structure.
Automatic Data Links (1)
- If gradebook assignments are linked to standards and/or report card areas this will confirm that the scores and data "know where to go" automatically, based on report card setup
- Areas or fields on the report card need to be setup by admin
Manual Data Links (2)
- When areas on the report card are not setup to be specific by standards, the gradebook, assignments or assessments (if available) need to confirmed as to where data will populate on the report card
- Typically overall gradebook scores are used here
- If additional fields are available click the field title (3) to drilldown and link as appropriate
Always Save Data Links (4) to confirm linking. This only needs to be done once unless new or different linking is to be conducted for various grading periods.
For more information, visit the Configure Report Card Data Links chapter in our Help system.
Additional Resources
Ready to begin Report Card Entry? Check out our U505 Report Cards for Teachers lesson in Illuminate U!