Power teacher gradebook part one

PowerTeacher Gradebook, Part One
 What are we doing today?
Explore the basics of PowerTeacher Gradebook in order to prepare for the
first day of school. Use the gradebook to:
Access PowerTeacher Gradebook
Set up grading preferences
Enter assignments
Record scores
Create student groups

 Getting Started with PowerTeacher
Access the gradebook anywhere that you have Internet access.
PowerTeacher's features and functions are tailored to the duties and
responsibilities teachers handle day to day.
Sign in to PowerTeacher using three pieces of information; the server
address, a username, and a password. To sign in to PowerTeacher, open a
browser. Enter the server address and then type /teachers. The extension on
the address directs the browser to the teacher side of the server.
Run the installer,
then launch the gradebook
from the main menu in
PowerTeacher.

 Navigating the Gradebook
By default, the gradebook opens to the Scoresheet tab, a modified
spreadsheet you use to track student assignment scores. Use the labels and
buttons in the top portion of the gradebook window to navigate through the
gradebook and filter what you see.

Refer to the following table for a brief explanation of the tabs teachers see
when they launch the gradebook.
Tab Description
Scoresheet Displays the assignments
and scores entered for
students
Assignments Displays the details of the
assignments the teacher
has created
Student Info Displays demographic
data for each student in
the class
Grade Setup Displays the final grade
setup for each term
Class Content Displays basic information
about the selected course
Reports Provides an interface to
format and run reports

Use each tab to access specific information. Three of the tabs are subdivided
into modes that organize the tab information into smaller sections. These
modes are as follows.
Scoresheet: Assignments, Final Grades, and Student View
Grade Setup: Calculations and Grade Scales
Class Content: Class Info, School Content, and My Content
The gradebook is ready to go the first day of school. You don't have a lengthy
setup because its default settings work for most teachers, at least to start.
You may want to format certain items, but the default settings make the
gradebook fully functional out of the box.

 Let’s Practice!
To start using the gradebook, run the installer, then launch the gradebook, and
create a homework assignment.
1. On the PowerTeacher Start Page, launch the gradebook using the old launch
method
2. Click Run
3. On the Scoresheet tab, click the + sign next to the assignment headings to open
the New Assignment pane
4. Enter a name for the homework assignment and press Tab
5. Edit the abbreviation, if you wish
6. Choose Homework as the category and use the default score typePoints
7. For the number of points possible, enter 30
8. Use the default values for the Extra Points, Weight, Date Due, and "Include in
Final Grade" fields
9. Enter a description, if needed
10. Click Save in the lower-right corner to save the assignment
11. Repeat steps 4-11 using different categories and assignment names and activities
to create two or three additional assignments

 Setting Up Grading
Setting Up Final Grade Calculations
Select the Calculations mode to set up how you want students' assignment
scores to count towards their final grades. Choose whether you'll calculate
the students' final grades using total points, term weights, standards
weights, or category weights. You can combine calculation methods by using
different methods for different terms, such as total points for Q1 and Q2 and
term weights for S1.

Total Points
Use the total points method to calculate a student's final grade by dividing
the points the student earned for the class by the number of points possible
for the class. Using this option, a student might earn 1250 points out of a
total 1600 points possible. Total
points is the default setting for
all terms, so if you use a
different calculation method,
you must set up final grade
calculations for each class
individually, or set up one class
and copy the setup to your
other classes.

Term Weights
Use the term weights method to calculate a student's final grade based on
grades from shorter terms. For example, you might calculate the Semester 1
grade based on the final grades for Quarter 1 and Quarter 2. In this scenario,
you might enter 40% for Quarter 1
and 60% for Quarter 2. Each
percentage is a weight used to
determine how the smaller term
contributes to the final grade. If
needed, enter percentages with a
decimal point, such as 33.33%.

Category Weights
Categories are broad classifications for assignments, such as homework and
tests. Use the category weights method to calculate a student's final grade
using assignment categories and, if you choose to, individual assignments.
Assign a weight to each category to determine how it contributes to the final
grade. The total number of points
the student earns for each category
is multiplied by the weight and then
divided by the total points possible
for the class. For example, you
might use the categories Homework,
Tests, and Final Project, and assign
each the respective weights 20, 40,
and 40.

Set up final grade weighting for two quarters and a semester term. Total points is the default method.
Use term
weights for the semester and category weights for the quarters.
1. Select the Grade Setup tab and click Calculations
2. Double-click S1
3. Select the final grade setup method Term Weights / Standard WeightsYou won't be using standards
weights in this activity.
4. In the Q1 Weight column, double-click 100
5. Delete the value and enter 40
6. In the Q2 Weight column, double-click 100
7. Delete the value and enter 60
8. Click Save
9. In the Reporting Term list, double-click Q1
10. Select Category Weights, click Add Category
11. Check the categories you want to include in the weighting and click OK
12. Enter the weight for each category
13. Click Save
14. Click copy, verify the Q1 term is selected, and click OK
15. Check Q2 and click Next > Finish
16. In the Reporting Term list, select Q2 to verify that the Q1 final grade calculation settings were copied

 Working With Assignments
Adding Categories
Categories are broad classifications in which you group similar types of
assignments. Examples of categories are homework, tests, and quizzes. The
gradebook includes four predefined categories; add additional categories
and/or modify the default categories whenever you wish.
When you set up a category, by default the assignments in that category are
included in the final grade calculation. When you clear the "Include in Final
Grade" check box for the category or an individual assignment, the scores
will not count in the final grade. For example, you may want to keep track
of pre-test scores. Create an assignment for each task, but do not include
the assignment scores in the final grade calculation.

Using Score Types
Use three different score types in PowerTeacher Gradebook—letter grades,
numerical points, or percentages. It's possible to use one score type for one
category and a different type for another, but it's best to choose one method
and use it consistently when scoring assignments so that your analysis of
student performance is easier. When assigning specific score types to a
category or assignment, choose from the following scoring options:
Points – Record all scores as points (default format)
Examples: 25 out of 25, 8 out of 10, 50 out of 100
Percentage – Record all scores as percentage values
Examples: 100%, 80%, 50%
Letter Grades – Record all scores as letters from the grade scale
Examples: A, B, F

Score Codes
You have one more scoring option:
score codes. A score code is a word
or abbreviation that represents a
specific score. For example, imagine
that one of your students is redoing
an assignment. You exempted the
student from an assignment, but
you know that after a few months
you won't remember why he was
exempted. Also, you don't want to
forget that the student is working
on the assignment again, so you
could create the score code REDO,
and give the score code a value of
EX (exempt). When you enter REDO
on the scoresheet, the missing
assignment won't affect the final
grade, and the REDO code reminds
you of the pending work. Navigate
to Preferences to add score codes.
Every score code you create must
have a value.

Add two new categories to the gradebook so you can record extra credit and classwork,
and create a score code for partial credit.
1. From the Tools menu, choose Categories
2. Click the + sign in the lower left corner of the Categories window to add a new category
3. In the category name field, enter Extra Credit
4. Enter an abbreviation, color, and the default points possible for assignments in the category
5. Click the + sign to add the second category
6. In the category name field, enter Classwork
7. Enter an abbreviation, color, and the default points possible for assignments in the category
8. Click Close to save the new categories and close the Categories window
9. From the Gradebook menu (Mac) or the Tools menu (PC), choosePreferences
10. Select the Score Codes tab and click Add
11. In the Code field, enter PART and for the description, enter partial credit
12. Clear Exempt
13. In the Percent field, enter 60 and click OK > OK

 Creating Assignments
View assignments on both the Scoresheet and Assignments tabs. Set up
assignments at the beginning of a school term or at any time during the
term. On the scoresheet, the name, point value, and due date for each
assignment appear above the column in which you enter student scores.
Double-clicking an assignment heading (or clicking the arrow at the top)
opens the assignment pane where you can modify the assignment, publish
criteria, or work with standards.
As you enter assignments, a demarcation line separates future assignments
from past assignments. Posting assignments before entering scores does not
skew how grades appear. The final grade that appears next to a student's
name on the scoresheet reflects an average grade only for the assignments
that you have scored already.

 Publishing Assignments
Publishing an assignment makes it possible for parents and students to see it
in the PowerSchool Student and Parent Portals. Publish an assignment at the
same time you create it, or at any point afterward. The gradebook defaults
to publishing assignments to the PowerSchool Student and Parent Portals as
soon as you create them. To change the default settings, click the Publish
tab in the assignment pane.
If an assignment is part of students' final grades, you must publish it at some
point to the Student and Parent Portals. You will receive an error message if
you choose the "Never publish" option for an assignment that counts toward
the final grade.

 Recording Scores
When entering scores, make sure to use the type of score that you set up
when you created the assignment: numbers for points and percentages or
letters for letter grades. Enter scores manually or use the following quick-
entry methods:
Quick-Entry Code Description
EX Marks an assignment
Exempt
(=) Assigns the maximum
points possible
MI or (/) Marks an assignment
missing
LT or (*) Marks an assignment late
COL or (.) Marks an assignment
collected

 Using the Score Inspector
While you can enter scores directly on
the scoresheet, use the Score
Inspector to provide more details
about the student's performance.
Identify if an assignment is missing, if
it was received late, if it was
collected but hasn't been scored yet,
or if a student is exempt from
completing the assignment. Also use
the Score Inspector to enter a
comment about a student's score. The
following table provides a brief
explanation of the assignment
indicators available in the gradebook.
Indicator Description Indicator Meaning
"C" in blue dot next to score Comment attached to the
assignment
"L" in red dot next to score Assignment turned in late
"M" in orange dot next to score Assignment missing
Green check in a cell Assignment collected but not
graded
Italicized faint score or the
letters "Ex"
Assignment does not count
towards final grade OR was
marked as exempt after
scoring
Hourglass in assignment
heading
Assignment published on
certain date
Circle with line through it in
assignment heading
Assignment never to be
published
Exclamation mark in red dot
next to italicized final grade
Final grade changed by manual
override
Exclamation mark in yellow dot
in the assignment heading
Scores are not published
"G" in gray dot next to student
name
Student assigned a grade scale
other than default
"S" in the assignment heading Assignment contains standards
(gray means no scores or
partial scores, green means
complete scores)
Gray gear wheel with a blue
arrow next to the assignment
name in Student View mode, in
the Final Score cell of the
Student View mode, or in the
standard heading
Higher level standard score is
calculated from the lower level
standard scores

 Scoring Shortcuts
Entering scores manually and using the Score Inspector aren't your only
options for recording scores on the scoresheet. Use any of the following
scoring shortcuts by control-clicking (Mac) or right-clicking (PC) an
assignment heading:
• Fill Scores: give every student the same score, indicator, or comment for an
assignment, or fill scores for students with no score
• Quick Fill: enter the same score for any student who doesn't already have a
score for that assignment
• Copy Scores: copy all student scores for an assignment when the same scores
can be pasted or applied to other assignments
• Paste Scores: paste all scores into another assignment
• Clear Scores: clear all scores for an assignment

 Working With Students
Sometimes you need to work with a specific group of students, such as
advanced readers or special education students, or change how student
names appear on the scoresheet. Use the following tools to organize student
names in the gradebook:
 Student Preferences
 Student Info tab
 Student Groups

 Student Preferences
Open the Gradebook menu (Mac) or the Tools menu (PC) and select
Preferences. Click the Student tab to format how student names appear in
the gradebook. You can choose the default name display, such as Last, First,
or choose to display the students' preferred name whenever possible. Use
the two check boxes at the bottom of the Student Preferences window to
control how pre-registered and newly enrolled students appear in the
gradebook.
 Student Info Tab
The gradebook's Student Info tab lists specific student information by
default, such as gender, home phone, and date of birth. Click the arrow
located next to a student name to open a lower pane. The pane defaults to
the last tab opened. On the Student tab, view demographic and contact
information for each student. Click an email address to copy the address or
send an email directly from the gradebook. On the Teacher Personal Note
tab, enter a private note about the student. This information is viewable
only on this window. On the Extra Class Columns tab, enter the student's
preferred name and other information.

 Formatting Extra Class Columns
As with other areas of the gradebook, the Student tab configuration is not
limited to the defaults. Personalize what student information is displayed by
using extra class columns. Edit or create columns to record information such
as students' book numbers, locker numbers, lab partners, or emergency
contacts. There is no limit to the number of extra class columns you can
create.

The computer lab just got new educational software, and you're eager to get your students
on the computers. To keep track of which student uses which computer, you assign a specific
computer to each student for the term. Create a column for computer numbers in the
gradebook.
1. Click the Student Info tab, and in the upper part of the pane, click Extra Class Columns
2. Select an existing column and click Edit
3. In the Column Name field, type Computer #
4. In the Description field, type Computer assigned this term
5. Click OK
6. Click Close
7. On the Student Info tab, scroll to the Computer # column
8. Click and drag the column to the left so that the computer numbers are visible without
needing to scroll. When rearranging columns, make sure to click the column heading.
9. To save the column arrangement, click Save
10. Enter a computer number for several students. To enter values, place your cursor in the first
cell of the column, enter a value, and then press Enter to move to the next cell.
11. To sort by computer number, click the Computer # heading. When you navigate away from
the Student Info tab, the sort order reverts back the order you selected in the gradebook
preferences.

 Setting Up Student Groups
Create student groups and sets (subgroups) when you can adapt instruction to the
needs of subgroups of students. Create and modify student groups at any time.
Add students to groups one by one or add multiple students at once.
How would setting up student groups be beneficial to you? Instead of giving the
same assignments to the whole class, give different assignments or due dates
according to the groups students are in. Then, exempt all the students not in that
group. Finally, score assignments and/or run reports for just one group. Multi-
grade classroom teachers could group students by grade level. A band teacher
could group students by the instrument they play.
 Group examples include:
 Math or reading groups
 Students who have discipline/tardy/absence problems
 IEP/pull out students
 Project groups
The Student Groups pane contains two default groups: Active and Dropped.
Students are sorted into the two groups automatically, based on their class
enrollment statuses. Use the Student Groups filter to highlight or filter students
in a group. Use the highlight option to highlight students' names in yellow on the
Scoresheet and Student Info windows. Use the filter option to hide all students
except those in the selected group.

Add student groups to your class. Create a group for students whose parents want to be
contacted via email and a group for students whose parents want to be contacted by
phone.
1. Click the + sign in the Student Groups pane and choose Add Group Set
2. Enter the name Contact and click OK
3. Control-click (Mac) or right-click (PC) Group 1 and choose Edit
4. Enter the name Email and click OK
5. Click the + sign again and choose Add Group
6. Verify that Contact is the Associated Group Set
7. Enter the name Phone and click OK
8. On the scoresheet, select a student's name and drag it to the Email group
9. Then, command-click (Mac) or control-click (PC) three students and drag them to the Phone
group
10. Select one of the contact groups (Email or Phone)
11. From the filter menu in the Student Groups pane, choose Filter Selected. You should see
only the students in that group on the scoresheet now.
12. From the filter menu, choose Highlight Selected
You'll still see all your students, but those in that group should be highlighted yellow.

Power teacher gradebook part one

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