ABI/Aeries Training Part II (Gradebook, Reports, & Grade Reporting) Presented by Steve Sankey (Mt. Diablo High), Ryan Clason (Concord High), and Shauna Hawes (Valley View Middle)

Plan for Today Visit our practice MDUSD demo site Practice creating gradebooks and entering grades Practice creating reports Practice grade reporting See what parents/students see Discuss training ideas and tips & tricks See resources for additional information and support for teachers and for you as trainers

Reminder: Logging On- 2 Steps *Please make sure you only use http://www.mdusd.org/abi to access ABI. 1. Use YOUR login (last name, first initial) 2. Password: demo 3. Number: 9999 4. There are no “new teacher” accounts in the demo, so please share!

Demo Site for Teachers Without Previous Classes Use http://demo.aeries.com/abi/ to access Aeries’ demo site. 1. Login: teacher 2. Password: teacher 3. School is Eagle High School

Your Turn Sign on to http://www.mdusd.org/abi/ (choose demo link) or http://demo.aeries.com/abi/ See the tabs? Attendance, Grades, Student Info, & Resources… click on the Grades tab Click on Gradebook

If you don’t have a gradebook from last year, you’ll need to add one- we’ll go over the specifics in a little while.

Gradebook - Left Menu Current Gradebook (the brackets indicate that the end date of the gradebook has passed)

Gradebook - Left Menu Current Gradebook Not "Cheese"! (File folder indicates current selection)

Gradebook - Left Menu Current Gradebook Choose "Gradebook Maintenance"

Gradebook Maintenance Top Menu Edit- Add, delete, change gradebooks Link- Allows you to connect gradebooks so that the same assignments, dates, descriptions appear in two or more. Careful! Enters/Leaves- Add or drop students based on office's entries Manage Students- Add, drop, delete, transfer, entry dates/exit dates for students Final Marks- Your grading scale Scales/backup- check documentation

Choose "Edit Gradebooks" You will see a list of gradebooks Choose "Edit Gradebooks" You will see a list of gradebooks. At the bottom, choose "Add New".

Considerations Before... 1.  What length of time will the gradebook cover?      A.  Default for year-long classes is "Y" for year      B.  Can set up other terms instead.                 2.  Who will be included in the gradebook?      A.  General ed?      B.  Special ed?      C.  TAs?      You can adjust these later, if needed.

Setting Up… Click on the correct section for the gradebook. *To select more than one section, hold down the Ctrl key and click the mouse on additional sections of students. Confirm that all the needed sections are included.   NOTE: grade range, start date, & end dates are important. You can adjust the dates to earlier or later than the actual term end. Click on “Apply Changes”.

Considerations about Linking...  Linking connects two (or more) gradebooks         *Used for multiple sections of the same class.     *Assignments will be the same in linked gradebooks.             Linking isn't always a perfect solution     *Not flexible            Can use NA to discount an assignment for a class             Linking must occur before assignments are entered. Unlinking can be done by entering “0”, but you may lose assignment records.   

Your Turn to Link Gradebooks- Use the same number to link the gradebooks.    Remember to use different numbers for different linkings.

Add Students

Enters/Leaves New or departing students are automatically added to the "Enters/Leaves" section. *If a student appears in attendance but not gradebook, talk to administration. * You will see a message that students need to be added/removed from gradebooks.  

    Managing Students *Transferring moves a student's records from one linked gradebook to another. *For new students, enter the beginning assignment number. *Dropping a student moves the name to the bottom of the list, and keeps all the records. (Suggestion- add "end" assignment number so that your grades are correct.) *Deleting takes the student completely off your list... be cautious here. (Suggestion - wait until end of term.)

Check In Have you: 1. Created a gradebook? 2. Linked gradebooks? 3.  Added/dropped students?

Final Marks Teachers can adjust final marks  Example: 90% is an A on the default scale, but this can adjust an A to 89.1% if you would prefer. Scales / Backups Scales? We’re unsure!!! Find and share back!   Backups are automatically done by the district. Teachers do not need to back up their work. 

Entering Assignments: To Consider Determine the assignment types you already use... Homework Classwork/Participation Tests Do you weight your assignments? If so, determine your assignment weights Homework (20%) Classwork/Participation (40%) Tests (40%)

Edit Assignment Types (Weighted Scoring Optional) Codes are your choice- linked gradebooks will set up automatically

You Try Choose a gradebook. Choose “Edit Assignment Types” Set up assignments types that will work for your classes. Weighted categories? Check the box.  Check speling

**My Turn** Choose a gradebook. On the left, click on “Edit Assignments” and then “Add New”

Default assignment number is sequential to the previous number *Default assignment number is sequential to the previous number. The number can be changed. (See more about numbering on the Help page online.) *Don't check "Grading Cmpltd" until scores are entered. *Dates are important!

Considerations for Assignments  Use accurate assignment and due dates!          (system defaults won't reflect your actual plans) Suggestion; Assignment should be visible on the day it's assigned so that it can be accessed by students/parents.   Description should be fairly basic, but should include page numbers, problem numbers, etc. Additional information should be in comment section. Default date is the current date. Default  due date is the next school day. You must set max score.  For extra credit, use "0". Uncheck the "visible" buttons if you are planning ahead.

Entering Gradebook Scores: Scores by Assignment Status doesn't appear on reports NA excuses an assignment and max score becomes zero *Grades for the assignment are not factored in unless "Grading Completed" is checked. *Hit “Submit Changes” frequently.

Enter or Make Changes By Student

To Summarize 1. Create a gradebook 2. Add students Add sections Add descriptions/dates 2. Add students 3. Edit Assignment Types 4. Edit Assignments

Gradebook Reporting Can use name or id number If confidentiality is an issue, you will want to use student id number. Aeries id number is not useful Can use name or id number Can select students and/or assignments to display

Assignment by Student List of all assignments for an individual student….can be handed out to each student

Gradebook Roster Default line height “High” line height Can be used for writing grades, keeping paper based attendance, etc. “High” line height

Gradebook Summary this is the report for a particular class of all student scores. ranges can be specified. a key for assignment numbers is printed on a separate page.

Assignment Analysis Can be used to provide statistical analysis of individual tests and assignments

Reporting Options

Grade Reporting (only during open window times) The window of when this can be done is set by the administrator at each site….If loaded from gradebook, weighting, percentage etc. can be adjusted Can enter grades manually Submit to record grades

Grade Reporting Can enter grades by loading from gradebook

Grade Reporting 1. 2. Loading from gradebook

Grade Reporting 3. Loading from gradebook Q 1 was assignments 100-199 Semester exam was assignment 500 Loading from gradebook

Grade Reporting 4. Loading from gradebook

Grade Reporting 5. Loading from gradebook

Grade Reporting You may always override a grade You can always update a grade until the grade window closes

Go back to Main Menu (time to move the cheese!)

Adding Events/ Messages

Homelink Parents and students can access information on your gradebook. Teachers can not see what parents can see. Parents must get a special password/code from the office. (Parent info slideshow will be available for your use.)

Parent/Student Accounts

Teacher vs. Parent Views

Assignment Options

Adjusting Parent/Student Views 1. Click on gradebook options 2. Next, click on current gradebook 3. Then, set the range of grades you want to a) have parents see and b) want calculated into your final grade. We recommend setting both to the same number. 4. To make assignments invisible to parent viewing, please make sure the option in the blue circle is check marked. 5. Hit “Submit Changes”.

Questions?

Resources for You and Teachers

Resources Practice online at demo.aeries.com View a flash-based training demo (http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/eldorado/abi.html)created by James Hood, teacher at El Dorado MS. (Thanks, James!!!) Visit the TIS Tech Help web site (http://www.mdusd.k12.ca.us/help/categories.php?categoryid=3). Listserve (e-mail group) for trainers: http://luisa.mdusd.k12.ca.us/mailman/listinfo/abi_trainers.  You can enter your own subscription info, including a desired password.

You can find information and documentation here, including this presentation for you to use and/or modify.

Training Ideas