1. A Comparison of Gradebook Options for assessing Student Competencies

2. Gradebooks
A gradebook is defined as ‘a book in which student grades are recorded.’
It may be kept on paper or electronically
Grades may be recorded as:
percentages
some other numeric scale
letter grades
performance indicators.
There are many ways it can be set up.

3. The One Dimensional Gradebook
The simplest gradebook would just be a recording of a single grade for each student without any reference to data collected through the term or course. This would be a single judgement made by the teacher.

4. The One Dimensional Gradebook
This would not be recommended as there would be no data to back up that judgement and it would be very difficult to avoid bias, including initial judgements of the student.

5. The Two Dimensional Gradebook
This is the traditional gradebook used by most secondary teachers. A number of assignments are created that cover the curriculum.
Normally the assignments are given a numeric grade and a weighted average is used to calculate a term or final grade for the course.
A Trend calculation could be used instead of an average.

6. Competencies in MyEd

7. The Two Dimensional Gradebook when assessing Competencies
A 2-D gradebook could be used if the teacher was able to create assignments that covered all the competencies (standards), with each assignment covering only one competency.
The challenge appears when each assignment covers multiple competencies and the teacher wants to assess each of those competencies.

8. The Three Dimensional Gradebook
To record a variety of assignments for each student and assess multiple competencies for each assignment a more complex gradebook is needed – whether done on paper or electronically.
Assignments could be projects, writing samples, quizzes, objects, or anything else
The gradebook needs a 3rd dimension to record assessments of the multiple competencies for each assignment.

9. The Three Dimensional Gradebook

10. The Three Dimensional Gradebook
The problem with a 3D gradebook is that we cannot view 3 dimensions on paper or on a computer screen, so we need to take a 2 dimensional view of the gradebook
There are three 2 dimensional views of a 3D object

11. View #1 – Single Competency
The first view is for a single competency, making it appear much like a traditional gradebook.
This is useful to assess how each student is progressing on that competency.
It also shows how the class as a whole is progressing.
In MyEd this is shown by default on the Scores side-tab.

12. View #1 – Single Competency in MyEd

13. View #2 – Single Assignment
This view is for a single assignment, making it appear similar to a traditional gradebook.
This is useful to assess how each student has done on a competency.
It is also used to enter marks for the assignment.
In MyEd this is shown on the Scores side-tab by clicking on Assignment.
Note that to make the competencies fit on the chart we had to create a short form of the competency. This is also true in MyEd.

14. View #2 – Single Assignment in MyEd

15. View #3 – Single Student This view is for a single student.
This is useful to assess how the student has progressed in the course.
It would be analyzed by the teacher to determine what grade or performance indicator would be put on the report card for that student in that course.
In MyEd this is shown on the Scores side-tab by clicking on Student.

16. View #3 – Single Student – in MyEd

18. Three views of a 3 dimensional gradebook

19. What about time?
Depending on your assignments it may make sense to weight your recent assignments heavier than those earlier in the term or course.
If you use numeric grades MyEd can do a complex calculation called a Trend instead of an Average calculation.
If using performance indicators you can do this ‘in your head’ by concentrating on more recent assignments.

20. Taking into account time (or growth)
If MyEd assignments are entered with the appropriate date, the Assignments axis can be thought of as a Time axis.
This can be seen here in the view of all students for one competency.

21. Taking into account time (or growth)
The time can be seen here in the single student view.
A teacher may want to weight the more recent assignments more heavily in their determination of a student’s grade.