ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK

Assignment #3Professional Actiities Pro!ect

Engra"e: Digital Gra"e Boo#
A$$e% Parsonage
&niersit% of Let'$ri"ge
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
Abstract:
(or t'is )ro!ect* I +se" t'e online com)+ter ,e$site calle" Engra"e* an online gra"e $oo#
t'at assists in teac'er organi-ation an" )lanning ,'ile recor"ing st+"ent )rogress in t'e
classroom. /reating an" maintaining fair* acc+rate an" ali" assessment is an ongoing
)rofessional "eelo)ment goal for an% teac'er. D+ring m% )ractic+ms* I 'ae $een motiate" to
fin" a s%stem t'at soles t'e )ro$lem of s+$!ectie assessment. I $eliee t'at if t'e teac'er is
organi-e" an" can clearl% )lan ,'at st+"ents nee" to accom)lis'* i"entif% ,'ere st+"ents are in
t'eir learning goals* an" reflect +)on t'eir o,n teac'ing )ractices an" tec'ni0+es* one is more
li#el% to ens+re fair assessment. One teac'ing strateg% t'at I )ractice fait'f+ll% in m% o,n
teac'ing is reflection an" metacognition. T'ro+g' st+"ent reflections* I am a$le to ga+ge st+"ent
master% of #no,le"ge* s#ills an" attit+"es an" "etermine ,'ic' assessment tools are a))ro)riate
to $est test st+"ents1 com)etencies. I fo+n" t'at ,it' o+r increasing +se of tec'nolog% in t'e
classroom* an online gra"e $oo# ,as a great )ro$lem2soling tool. Teac'ers* li#e st+"ents nee"
t'e )ro)er tools to set t'em +) for s+ccess. T'e conenience of 'aing all classroom information
online allo,s teac'ers t'e o)tion of eit'er storing t'e information for )ersonal an" sc'ool
recor"s* an"3or s'aring t'e information ,it' )arents an" st+"ents. D+ring m% e4)loration ,it'
Engra"e* I fo+n" t'at it met all of m% re0+irements for a free* com)re'ensie an" +ser2frien"l%
,a% to manage a classroom an" ens+re a safe* )ositie learning enironment.
Rationale:
To test t'e )racticalit% of Engra"e as a )ro$lem2soling tool* I esta$lis'e" an Engra"e
classroom $ase" on m% +nit ta+g't in P5II. I create" an ELA ,riting +nit entitle"* 6E4tra* E4tra*
7rite All A$o+t It8* ,'ic' re0+ire" m% Gra"e 9 class to create t'eir o,n maga-ines. T'is +nit
'a" man% "ifferent assignments an" t'e s'ort time frame of m% )ractic+m 'a" st+"ents
com)osing one maga-ine com)onent )er ,ee#. I 'a" n+mero+s fol"ers* !o+rnals* logs an"
$in"ers to 'o+se t'e "ifferent as)ects of m% +nit* along ,it' m% management )lan an"
assessment tools s+c' as r+$rics an" c'ec#lists. :% +nit ,as er% s+ccessf+l an" I am er% )ro+"
of it. ;o,eer* 'aing a more com)re'ensie an" consistent organi-ation an" management tool
,o+l" 'ae $een er% 'el)f+l. I also 'a" some st+"ents ,'o ,ere contin+all% a$sent for "ance
recitals* s)orts eents an" $an" com)etitions. I ,o+l" 'ae $enefite" from a )rogram s+c' as
Engra"e to 'el) me manage m% classroom ,'ile )roi"ing st+"ents an" )arents ,it' a contin+al
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
comm+nication lin# in ,'ic' ,e co+l" esta$lis' e4)ectations an" "ea"lines.
I in)+tte" m% +nit as ta+g't to Engra"e to "etermine if t'e online )rogram ,o+l" $e
'el)f+l to resole t'e organi-ational an" comm+nication iss+es t'at I face" "+ring m% )ractic+m.
I fo+n" t'at Engra"e ,o+l" not onl% 'ae $een +sef+l for m% ELA class* $+t also m% ot'er
classes* as m% classroom ,as str+ct+re" as a 'omeroom setting ,it' m% Teac'er Associate an" I
teac'ing t'e fo+r core classes instea" of in a "%a" li#e t'e ot'er classes in t'e mi""le sc'ool.
Statement of the Problem:
7'at is t'e $est )rogram for managing an" monitoring st+"ent )rogress an" )romoting )arent
inolement ,'ile also )roi"ing long an" s'ort term )lanning* organi-ation an" sc'e"+ling for
teac'ers<
Description of the Technology Tool:
Engra"e is an 6o)en "igital )latform for K2=> e"+cation t'at +nifies t'e "ata* c+rric+l+m
an" tools t'at e"+cators +se eer% "a% to "rie st+"ent ac'ieement an" inform "istrict
e"+cational strateg%8 ?Engra"e.com@. Engra"e is li#e a tool$o4 for teac'ers* allo,ing t'em to
comm+nicate ,it' st+"ents an" )arents* create an" trac# assessment* as ,ell as remain organi-e"
an" )lanne" for +)coming lessons in m+lti)le classes. 5ee (ig+re =.
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
?(ig. =@22:% Engra"e 'omescreen* t'e $eginning of m% !o+rne% to organi-ation an" assessment
management.
(ig+re = ill+strates t'e 'ome screen* a )age ,'ic' allo,s %o+ to trac# %o+r classes an" see
an oerie, of %o+r teac'ing loa". As I com)lete" m% )ractic+m* t'is 'ome )age ,o+l" 'ae
e4)an"e" to incl+"e not onl% ELA teac'ing information* $+t also t'e ot'er s+$!ects s+c' as 5ocial
5t+"ies* 5cience an" :at'. 5ee (ig+re >. It is also from t'is 'ome screen t'at %o+ can ie, t'e
class1s aerage gra"e )ercentage for eac' class create". It also allo,s %o+ to 0+ic#l% c'ec# t'e
n+m$er of missing assignments in eac' class. T'is ,o+l" $e )artic+larl% 'el)f+l to,ar" t'e en"
of m% )ractic+m ,'en I 'a" to 'ae st+"ents1 assignments 'an"e" in an" gra"e" $efore m%
)ractic+m en"e".
?(ig. >@22Ill+strates m% Engra"e 'ome screen as it ,o+l" 'ae loo#e" at t'e en" of m% P5II
)ractic+m. It incl+"es se)arate classes for ELA* :at'* 5ocial 5t+"ies an" 5cience.
After creating a class an" in)+tting st+"ent lists an" "etermining e4)ectations* s+c' as a
gra"ing scale* it is time to create st+"ent assignments. 5ee (ig+re 3. Eac' ne, assignment ,as
assigne" a ,eig'ting as ,ell as t'e )oints t'at t'e assignment ,as o+t of. One )ro$lem t'at I
enco+ntere" ,it' assessment "+ring m% )ractic+m ,as tro+$le ,eig'ting assignments. I
,eig'te" assignments $ase" on t'e &nit Assessment Plan create" in m% Eal+ation class.
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
;o,eer* ,'en I ,ent to gra"e t'e assignments* I fo+n" m%self ma#ing eac' assignment o+t of
t'e )ercentage it ,as ,ort'. (or e4am)le* if t'e maga-ine coer ,as ,eig'te" at =AB* I a,ar"e"
=A mar#s. In 'in"sig't* t'is met'o" "oes not al,a%s ens+re fair an" ali" assessment. 7it'
Engra"e* t'e ,eig'ting an" )ossi$le )oints ,ere calc+late" se)aratel% ,'ic' allo,e" me to 'ae
t'e maga-ine coer ,eig'te" at =AB $+t onl% o+t of C mar#s. T'erefore* Engra"e also )roi"e"
me ,it' an o))ort+nit% to effectiel% +se m% Assessment Plan* 'el)ing me to ens+re t'at m%
assignments ,ere realistic an" ali" e4)ectations of st+"ent #no,le"ge an" s#ill.
?(ig. 3@22Eac' ne, assignment is ,eig'te" an" st+"ent scores can $e entere" as eac' assignment
is com)lete".
7it' man% assignments an" a limite" amo+nt of time* +sing t'e calen"ar feat+re in
con!+nction ,it' t'e assignment creator ma"e for a straig'tfor,ar" an" linear time line for $ot'
st+"ents an" teac'er to follo,. 5ee (ig+re D. T'e online calen"ar ,as 'el)f+l for organi-ation*
$+t ,'at reall% 'el)e" me to is+all% re)resent an" monitor st+"ent )rogress ,as t'e 1timeline1
feat+re. 5ee (ig+re C. Base" on t'e m% )re2"etermine" gra"ing s%stem ,'ic' I c'ose as I create"
eac' assignment* I ,as a$le to see ,'ic' st+"ents ,ere $elo,* meeting or e4cee"ing t'eir
learning goals. T'e re"* %ello, an" green colo+r co"ing for eac' assignment allo,e" me to see
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
,'ic' st+"ents str+ggle" or e4celle" in certain assignments. In m% &nit Assessment Plan* I trie"
to 'ae assignments t'at foc+se" on "ifferent learning o+tcomes to test $ot' $rea"t' an" "e)t' of
st+"ent #no,le"ge. 7it' t'is information at 'an"* t'e time line feat+re also allo,s me to see
,'ic' learning o+tcomes st+"ents 'ae mastere" an" ,'ic' o+tcomes I nee" to foc+s on in f+t+re
lessons* assignments an" e4aminations.
?(ig. D@22Engra"e1s mont'2at2a glace calen"ar allo,s teac'ers to sc'e"+le classroom assignments
an" assessments.
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
?(ig. C@22Engra"e1s time line feat+re allo,s teac'ers to trac# an" monitor st+"ent )rogress as eac'
assignment is com)lete". T'is feat+re ,or#s e4cellentl% as a formatie assessment tool.
Engra"e not onl% allo,s teac'ers to create an" monitor assignments ,it' "ea"lines* $+t
also constr+ct m+lti)le c'oice2st%le assessments rig't in t'e ,e$site. 5ee (ig+re E. Alt'o+g' m%
+nit foc+se" 'eail% on ,riting* I t'in# t'at Engra"e co+l" 'ae $een 'el)f+l for s'ort 0+i--es on
,riting conentions or to +n"erstan" t'e )arts of a maga-ine* I !+st "i" not 'ae t'e )ro)er tools
to easil% con"+ct t'is t%)e of assessment. T'e 0+i--es com)onent on Engra"e ,o+l" 'ae $een
er% 'el)f+l in t'e 'istor%2foc+se" Gra"e 9 5ocial 5t+"ies c+rric+l+m. T'e 5ocial +nit I ta+g't
,as $ro#en "o,n into neat* managea$le sections t'at "ealt ,it' a )artic+lar t'eme or to)ic "+ring
t'e 7ar of =F=>. T'e Engra"e 0+i- section ,o+l" 'ae $een great to "o formatie 0+i--es on
st+"ent #no,le"ge as ,e )rogresse" t'ro+g'o+t t'e c'a)ters. An online me"i+m for 0+i--es is
'el)f+l to )romote "eelo)ment of >=
st
cent+r% s#ills. 7it' man% st+"ents +sing com)+ters or
mo$ile "eices $ot' in an" o+t of sc'ool* +sing a com)+ter for assessment is not onl% +sef+l* $+t
)ractical as it )re)ares t'em for t'eir f+t+re as "igital naties.
?(ig. E@22:+lti)le /'oice assessments allo, teac'ers to create* )ost an" correct tests online.
In a""ition to t'e s+mmatie assessment feat+res t'at Engra"e offers* t'ere is also a
flas'car" tool. 5ee (ig+re 9. 5t+"ents are enco+rage" to test t'eir #no,le"ge t'ro+g' teac'er
create"* online flas'car"s $efore ta#ing t'e 0+i-. Base" on o$serations in m% )ractic+m* man%
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
of m% st+"ents fo+n" flas'car"s +sef+l* )artic+larl% for s+$!ects s+c' as 5cience* ,'ere t'e% ,ere
re0+ire" to remem$er "ifferent as)ects of t'e Eart' an" its com)osition. Online flas'car"s also
'el)s to assist in accessi$ilit% of learning material o+tsi"e of class. I $eliee t'at )roi"ing t'ese
e4tra affor"ances 'el)s to ens+re t'at st+"ents reac' master% of t'e content $efore assessing t'eir
a$ilit%. T'e )rimar% )ro$lem t'at I ,as loo#ing to sole ,it' t'is assignment ,as s+$!ectie
assessment. Engra"e offers tools to 'el) g+i"e assessment 1for1 an" assessment 1of1 learning*
creating a more o$!ectie assessment )lan. Teac'ers +sing Engra"e are a,are of st+"ent gra"es
almost instantl%. 7it' t'is #no,le"ge* t'e% can t'en foc+s on targete" areas of "iffic+lt%* an"3or
comm+nicate st+"ent assessment res+lts to )arents.
?(ig. 9@22Engra"e1s online flas'car" tool allo,s st+"ents an" )arents to st+"% an" )ractice content
to )re)are for a s+mamtie assessment.
An online gra"e $oo# also allo,s )arents to $ecome inole" an" ineste" in t'eir c'il"1s
learning. Bren"a :i-e e4)lains t'at 6a negatie as)ect ,it' t'e c+rrent s%stem of re)orting a
letter gra"e on a re)ort car" at t'e en" of t'e gra"ing )erio" is t'at t'e teac'er1s assessment
arries ,ee#s or een mont's after t'e assignment ,as gra"e"8 ?>A==* )g. F@. Online gra"e $oo#s
s+c' as Engra"e 'el) to resole t'is )ro$lem $% creating a constantl% isi$le recor" of st+"ent
)rogress in real time. Teac'ers can "is)la% eer%t'ing from st+"ent gra"es on assignments an"
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
0+i--es* to seating c'arts* atten"ance an" "isci)line recor"s. 5ee (ig+re F. :i-e also e4)lains t'at
Engra"e1s instant an" contin+al access 'el)s to 6teac' t'e st+"ents t'at t'e% are res)onsi$le for
t'eir o,n gra"es8 ?>A==* )g. E>@. As a teac'er* I aim to $e a g+i"e an" facilitator for st+"ent
learning. If st+"ents #no, ,'ere to access t'eir gra"es in t'e classroom* see t'eir )rogress an"
i"entif% areas of strengt' an" areas for im)roement* t'e% are more li#el% to $ecome acco+nta$le
for t'eir o,n learning* aoi"ing t'e common comment of* 6,'at gra"e are %o+ giing me in t'is
class<8 7it' Engra"e* st+"ents are a,are of t'eir res)onsi$ilit% as learners. I #no, t'at as a
st+"ent* if t'e teac'er allo,e" me to see m% gra"es as t'e% see t'em* I ,o+l" rest ass+re" t'at
not'ing is $eing 'i""en from me an" t'at I ,as $eing gra"e" fairl%. (or most st+"ents* t'is access
ma% 'el) t'em to +n"erstan" t'e teac'er1s "esire to create fair an" o$!ectie assessment.
?(ig. F@22 Atten"ance recor"s are !+st one of man% organi-ational tools em$e""e" ,it'in Engra"e
to 'el) teac'ers organi-e an" monitor st+"ents.
In a""ition to allo,ing )arents an" st+"ents to see st+"ent )rogress* Engra"e also 'as a
messaging s%stem ,'ic' allo,s teac'ers to comm+nicate ,it' st+"ents an" )arents on a reg+lar
$asis. 5ee (ig+re G. T'e e2mail can $e s)ecific to an assignment* s+c' as )roi"ing insig't to a
0+estion as#e" at t'e en" of class* or $roa"* !+st as a remin"er t'at fiel"2tri) forms m+st $e
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
ret+rne" to class $% H+ne C. Esta$lis'ing t'is o)en comm+nication lin# allo,s )arents to $ecome
inole" in t'eir c'il"1s learning as ,ell as esta$lis'ing an effectie relations'i) ,it' t'e teac'er.
?(ig. G@22Engra"e creates an eas% an" accessi$le comm+nication lin# ,it' st+"ents an" )arents
t'ro+g' its integrate" messaging s%stem.
Attribute Activation Matrix:
/reating an Attri$+te Actiation :atri4 'el)e" me to "etermine t'e ario+s "imensions of
m% )ro$lem as ,ell as !+stif% ,'% Engra"e ,o+l" $e a 'el)f+l tool to 'el) resole t'e )ro$lem.
Toget'er* I ,as a$le to create a rationale for m% )ro$lem2soling tool* as ,ell as i"entif%
strategies to 'el) me oercome t'e )ro$lem. I $egan m% )ro!ect ,it' a 'e+ristic scan for
a))ro)riate strategies. I #ne, t'at I ,ante" a free an" +ser2frien"l% tool* $+t I 'a" no i"ea ,'ere
to $egin. I +se" a conce)t ma) s+rro+n"ing t'e analogical t'in#ing i"ea of a 6teac'er tool$o48 to
"irect m% $rainstorming. 5ee (ig+re =A. After $rainstorming* I c'ec#e" o+t a )rogram calle"
Pen-+* $+t fo+n" t'at it ,as e4)ensie an" +n)ractical. After m% e4)erience ,it' "e)t'2first 'ill2
clim$ing* I "eci"e" to go $ac# to s0+are one ?m% conce)t ma)@. I +se" t'e #e% feat+res I 'a"
$rainstorme" as internet searc' ,or"s. It is 'ere t'at I st+m$le" across Engra"e. I "etermine" t'at
Engra"e ,as an effectie tool $% e4)loring its man% feat+res an" ta#ing note of 'o, t'e feat+res
correlate ,it' t'e re0+irements in m% conce)t ma). 7it' almost eer% re0+irement met* I
reali-e" t'at I 'a" finall% fo+n" a )rogram t'at ,o+l" ,or# for me.
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
?(ig. =A@22A conce)t ma) o+tlining m% initial re0+irements for a 1teac'er tool$o4.1
Belo,* %o+ ,ill fin" a $rea#"o,n of m% )ro$lem2soling )rocess as o+tline" in an Attri$+te
Actiation :atri4.
Dimension of the Problem Attributes of the Tool
(Rationale for Technology)
Problemsolving Strategies
2managing st+"ent information Iario+s mo"es of ie,ing
st+"ent information* $ot'
)ersonal an" aca"emic. (or
e4am)le* teac'ers can create
seating arrangements*
"isci)line an" atten"ance
recor" as ,ell as a class
aerageJ in"ii"+al st+"ent
aeragesJ time line3colo+r2
co"e" ie, of st+"ent
ac'ieement* an" $ar gra)'s
"e)icting ,'ic' st+"ents
aerage "ifferent letter gra"es.
T'e anec"otal comments
22Analogical t'in#ing ?Engra"e
is li#e a tool$o4 for teac'ers.@
22In"+ctie reasoning ?I "re,
'%)ot'eses $ase" on m%
o$serations in P5==@.
22Test t'e e4tremes
?)a)er3'ar"2co)% )lanning s.
Engra"e a com)letel% online
)rogram@.
22E4ternal )ortra%al ?a$ilit% to
ie, st+"ent )rogress in man%
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
section 'el)s to trac# st+"ent
$e'aio+r an" aca"emic
)rogress.
"ifferent forms: $ar2gra)'*
colo+r2co"es* GPA* )ercentage
aerage* etc@.
22Ela$oration ?Engra"e
)roi"es an e4ternall% ,'at is
+s+all% )rocesse" internall% $%
$rea#ing "o,n eac'
com)onent of )lanning*
assessment an"
comm+nication@.
22/o+rage 5)an ?ta#ing time to
transfer all information online
,ill ta#e time an" re0+ire
"e"ication to see t'e re,ar"s.
22$rainstorming ?listing all of
t'e feat+res t'at teac'ers ,ant
an" nee" to effectiel% manage
a classroom@.
22Brea"t' first ?researc'ing an"
fin"ing an effectie )rogram
$ase" on $rainstorming
re0+irements@.
22De)t'2first ;ill clim$ing ?I
$egan ,it' Pen-+ $eca+se it
,as a )rogram I 'a" 'ear"
mentione" $% m% )eers.
;o,eer* t'e lac# of free trial
acco+nt le" to to a 1"ea" en"1@.
2creating an effectie
comm+nication lin# $et,een
sc'ool an" 'ome
A $+ilt2in messaging s%stem
ena$les comm+nication among
st+"ents* $+t also to )arents
notif%ing t'em a$o+t st+"ent
)rogress to,ar"s learning
goals or +)coming eents.
2ens+ring safet% of st+"ent
information
Engra"e $loc#s IP a""resses
,'ic' attem)t too man% faile"
logins in a gien time )erio".
Eac' st+"ent 'as an encr%)te"
access co"e. /reating com)le4
)ass,or"s is also re0+ire"
?Engra"e.com@.
22"esigning an" eal+ating
online st+"ent assessment
Engra"e offers $ot' formatie
assessment ?flas'car"s@ as ,ell
as s+mamtie assessment
?m+lti)le c'oice 0+i-@ o)tions.
Gra"ing res+lts are "eliere"
0+ic#l% an" st+"ents can
access content a,a% from
sc'ool if nee"e".
Organi-ation of teac'er tools
an" reso+rces in one
com)re'ensie site.
/alen"ar feat+re allo,s
teac'ers to )lan an" organi-e
classroom actiities. A$ilit% to
a"" an" store files for clo+"2
$ase" information storage
creating contin+al accessi$ilit%.
Gra"e $oo# allo,s %o+ to ie,
st+"ent gra"es as ,ell as t'e
stat+s of ario+s assignments
?missing* late* etc@.
!onclusion:
Engra"e +nifies t'e "ata* c+rric+l+m* an" tools teac'ers* sc'ools lea"ers* an"
a"ministrators +se eer% "a% $% integrating all of a "istrictKs soft,are an" s%stems* incl+"ing
t'ir"2)art% a))lications an" o)en e"+cation reso+rces* into one f+ll% sec+re an" eas%2to2+se*
clo+"2$ase" )latform. Districts rel% on Engra"eKs )o,erf+l single sign2on sol+tion to en'ance
"istrict2,i"e comm+nication* )lan an" eal+ate c+rric+l+m* manage assessment* an" monitor
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
st+"ent )rogress in real time ?Engra"e.com@. A))l%ing Engra"e to a )ro$lem t'at I "iscoere"
"+ring m% P5II )ractic+m allo,e" me to effectiel% +se a )rogram for managing an" monitoring
st+"ent )rogress an" )romoting )arent inolement ,'ile also )roi"ing long an" s'ort term
)lanning* organi-ation an" sc'e"+ling for teac'ers. I )lan on contin+ing m% +se of Engra"e
"+ring m% P5III )ractic+m.
ENGRADE: DIGITAL GRADE BOOK
"ibliography
Engra"e.com. 'tt)s:33,,,.engra"e.com3)ro3)ress.)')
:i-e* Bren"a Gail* LTeac'ers Perce)tions of t'e Im)act of Online Gra"ing 5%stems.L ?>A==@.
Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Pa)er =3>=. 'tt):33"c.ets+.e"+3et"3=3>=