Self-assessment
A. Gradebook components
To access the gradebook, follow the link provided by your instructor. Generally that means clicking the "Gradebook" button in the nav bar at the top of all the class pages. The gradebook always requires you to enter your class username and password before the page will be displayed.
The gradebook comprises three separate areas. Your instructor has the ability to determine what—if anything—is displayed for you in each of those three areas.
Assignments: If the instructor chooses to display this area, it might show just a list of assignments, or it might show progress by everyone in the class for all those assignments.
Final grade: If the instructor chooses to display this area and if the gradebook has been finalized at the end of the class, this will display your final grade.
Scores and results: If the instructor chooses to display this area, it will provide detailed information about your performance on each class assignment.
B. Assignments
Depending on how the instructor has configured this area of the gradebook, you might be able to see in tabular format each assignment, the deadline for each assignment, the maximum number of points for each assignment, and progress by each person in the class for each assignment.
If the instructor has set gradebook configurations to show assignments for all students, depending on configurations, a check mark or score will appear in the columns to show how each student has performed. Assignment scores can be set by the instructor to show as percentages, points, or letter grades.
C. Final grades
Instructors have the choice whether or not to show final grades. Final grades can be set to show as a total numeric grade (points or percentage), final letter grade, or both. Of course, this won't ever appear until the class is over and the gradebook has been finalized.
If your instructor configures the gradebook to do so, the CATE system will also email your final grade to you at the end of the class.
D. Scores and results
The third area of the gradebook allows the instructor to display detailed information about your performance on each assignment. Depending on configurations set by your instructor, you might see some or all of the following:
- Date assignment submitted
- Date assignment graded
- Raw score for the assignment
- Penalty and/or extra credit for the assignment
- Final score for the assignment
- Complete information about each question you were asked, the answer you gave, whether the answer was correct or incorrect, the correct answer for the question, further information about each question and/or answer, etc.
- Personalized comments about your performance on the assignment, written by your instructor
Note that this detailed information about your performance on each assignment will not appear until the appropriate time, as specified by your instructor. That means, for example, that you might not be able to see your test results until the deadline has passed and no one else in the class can take that test. In the meantime, you might simply see a message such as "Your results are on file."
If you ever encounter any errors in the gradebook, you should always contact your instructor immediately.
E. More resources
CATE homepage
F. Self-assessment
Take the self-assessment quiz to ensure you're comfortable with all the concepts and skills in this chapter. The quiz will open in a new browser window, and after submitting the quiz you'll immediately see your score.
Practice exercise: Visit your class gradebook and familiarize yourself with the information available there.
The Gradebook module in the CATE system allows instructors to store information about assignment scores, assignment comments, and final grades. An instructor has the choice of allowing students to view all or part of the stored information. An instructor may choose to use the gradebook only for his or her own purposes, or configure it so students can keep track of their progress in the class. If your instructor has an open gradebook, visit it often to track your progress.