Adding text to a gradebook column
It is not currently possible to add text directly to a gradebook column, but there is a workaround for some instances where you may need it.
Blackboard has said they intend to issue an update that allows adding text directly, hopefully within the next 6 months. When this is available, we will update this article.
Example situation: You have four staff/markers on your module site and want to indicate in a Gradebook column who is to mark which student.
Workaround: You can create a new column and apply a specially built schema to it. This schema allows you to type a correlation number in the column, which appears as a name. E.g. 1 equals Emma, 2 equals Sam, etc.
Directions:
Step 1. Go to Gradebook, select [Marks] view, then hover over a dividing line to get the [Add content] Plus symbol (+) . Click the plus sign and select [Add Item].
Step 2. A panel appears on the right-hand side. Edit the settings as follows:
Give it an appropriate title. E.g. ‘Markers column’.
Leave visibility set to [Hidden from participants]
Select and delete the date and time.
Then click [Save] at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3. Over on the far right of the Gradebook, click the cog symbol, then select [Manage mark schemas] from near the top of the panel that opens up.
Step 4. In the Mark Schemas section, select [+ Add] and give the schema a name, e.g. ‘Markers column schema’
Step 5. You need as many rows as you have markers. Hover over a dividing line to add more rows, and click the (+) symbol. Add maker's names in the [Mark Name] column as you create them. When you have enough rows, edit the initial row rows to add the final two names you need by clicking on the grade letter and it will opening an editing box allowing you to change the name.
If you need to delete a row, select the row then click the dustbin icon that appears to the far right of the row to delete it.
Step 6. Starting from the top row (due to how the schemas calculate), Click on the marker's name but edit the [Marks range] column.
Make the 4th marker: ‘3% and less than 100%’
Make the 3rd marker ‘2% and less than 3%’
Make the 2nd marker ‘1% and less than 2%’
Make the 1st marker ‘0% and less than 1%’
You will see error text on the screen as you work down, but that’s okay. Just edit the line beneath the one you are working on to match the range above, and you should be able to proceed.
This example is based on 4 markers, if you have less or more replace the starting 3% number with 1 less than the number of markers you have. E.g. if you have 6 markers, start at 5%.
Make a copy of the who is which number in your schema. This is the first number in the range. E.g. Brian is 0, Sam is 1, etc.
When you have finished building your schema, click save in the bottom right. And close this screen down with the X in the red tab at the top left.
Step 7. Go back to the Gradebook ‘Marks’ view. Click the Icon (not the double-headed arrow) at the top of your markers column until you get the dropdown menu. Select [Edit]. A panel will pop out on the right-hand side.
Under [Mark, drop the menu down next to ‘Mark Using’ and select your nearly created schema. Then Click [Save] on the bottom right.
Step 8. You can now type the correlating number in for each student's marker directly into the cell in the Markers column. This will then convert to the relevant name on the schema.
If the number appears but not the name, refresh your browser screen (press the F5 key at the top of your keyboard). The name should then appear.
If you make a mistake, just click back into the cell and delete the content or type the correct number over the top.
