Teacher Technology Handbook-6 - PACT Charter School

PACT CHARTER SCHOOL
TEACHER TECHNOLOGY
HANDBOOK
October 26, 2009
Updated January 6, 2010
Reviewed and Updated June 29, 2010

Technology Coordinator: Guy Winters, ext 211
Tech Support: Shari Melin, ext 223
Tech Support: Garrett Gunderson, ext 223
Email: PACTech4008@gmail.com
Room 223

Teacher Technology Handbook
VIEWING A DVD FROM COMPUTERS..................................................................... 5
COMPUTER ACCOUNTS FOR SUB TEACHERS..................................................... 6
SUBS WILL HAVE ACCESS TO:............................................................................................... 6
SUBS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO:...................................................................................... 6
SCHOOL-WIDE TV BROADCASTS ............................................................................ 7
ROOMS 162, 164, 165, 190, 261, 262, 263, 265 ................................................................... 7
ROOMS 161, 191 (ISC), 205, 212......................................................................................... 7
ROOMS 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 163, 171 (MUSIC), 206, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 264,
266....................................................................................................................................... 7
JMC IP GRADEBOOK BASICS.................................................................................... 8
START JMC IP GRADEBOOK................................................................................................ 8
UPDATE COURSE LIST AND CLASS ROSTER ......................................................................... 8
UPDATE COURSE LIST AND CLASS ROSTER ......................................................................... 9
GRADE CUTOFFS.................................................................................................................. 9
CATEGORIES AND ASSIGNMENTS ......................................................................................... 9
ASSIGNMENT SCORES ........................................................................................................ 11
OTHER SCORE SCREEN FEATURES ..................................................................................... 12
ENDING THE PROGRAM ...................................................................................................... 12
JMC IP GRADEBOOK ADVANCED.......................................................................... 13
ADDING COMMENTS .......................................................................................................... 13
ASSIGNMENT SCORE NOTES .............................................................................................. 15
CATEGORIES: STAND-ALONE & EXTRA CREDIT CATEGORIES............................................ 16
CATEGORIES: LOW SCORES TO DROP................................................................................. 18
CATEGORIES: CALCULATE USING WEIGHTS OR TOTAL POINTS......................................... 18
SENDING GRADES TO THE OFFICE (SECONDARY TERM-END REPORT CARDS)................... 19
GRADE REPORTS ........................................................................................................ 21
TERM-END REPORT CARDS ............................................................................................... 21
MIDTERM GRADES (SECONDARY) ..................................................................................... 21
SET THE MIDTERM DATE ................................................................................................... 22
REVIEW MIDTERM GRADES AND LOCK GRADES ............................................................... 23
ADD MIDTERM COMMENTS ............................................................................................... 25
PRINTING MIDTERM GRADES............................................................................................. 26
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SENDING MIDTERM GRADE TO THE OFFICE ....................................................................... 26
PROGRESS REPORTS........................................................................................................... 28
CREATE A NEW PROGRESS REPORT ................................................................................... 28
EDIT PROGRESS REPORT SETUP ......................................................................................... 30
SENDING PROGRESS REPORTS TO OFFICE .......................................................................... 31
ELEMENTARY REPORT CARDS ............................................................................. 33
CALCULATING OVERALL GRADES ..................................................................................... 33
ENTERING WPM, ACCURACY, AND COMMENTS FOR COMPUTER CLASSES ....................... 34
HOW TO ENTER ATTITUDES AND WORK HABITS ............................................................... 34
HOW TO ENTER ATTITUDES AND WORK HABITS ............................................................... 35
HOW TO ADD COMMENTS.................................................................................................. 36
ONLINE PROGRESS REPORTS ................................................................................ 38
ONLINE PARENT AND/OR STUDENT ACCESS ...................................................................... 38
UPDATED SCORES AND COMMENTS................................................................................... 39
VIEWING ASSIGNMENT SCORE NOTES ............................................................................... 41
PUBLISHING SCORES ON-LINE ........................................................................................... 41
USING THE GRADEBOOK PROGRAM FROM HOME........................................ 43
QUESTIONS AND HELP ....................................................................................................... 43
COMPUTER LAB AVAILABILITY 2010-11............................................................. 44
GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................................................ 45
TECHNOLOGY REQUISITIONS ............................................................................................. 45
SOFTWARE ......................................................................................................................... 45
PUBLIC COMPUTERS / SCANNERS....................................................................................... 45
NETWORKED PRINTERS...................................................................................................... 45
EQUIPMENT FOR CHECKOUT .............................................................................................. 46
USING MOODLE ................................................................................................................. 46
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VIEWING A DVD FROM COMPUTERS
VLC Media Player has been installed on all Teacher Computers and some staff
(including Room 190) and a student computer in the Library (LIB005) and in ISC
(ISC006). The student computers are intended for PSEO Student use.
The double clicking on the player icon:
Opens the player:
To display the video in FULL SCREEN, go to Video and choose FULL SCREEN.
Shortcut: right click in the window, check FULL SCREEN.
VIDEO PLAYING
To exit the full screen mode, RIGHT CLICK on the screen and uncheck FULL SCREEN.
When you eject the video, it will automatically stop playing.
Note: Speakers are required to hear audio. However, audio will come through the
projector.
ISC & Media Center:
Headphones are required to hear audio with the DVD.
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COMPUTER ACCOUNTS FOR SUB TEACHERS
Prepared by Tech Support
December 6, 2007
Teacher computers have been setup with a Guest Account (not password protected).
Please remove any passwords that may be present in your sub folder.
Subs will have access to:
• Attendance (secondary only)
• Shared Documents
• Printers
• Internet
• Programs and folders available to ‘All Users’
Subs will NOT have access to:
• IP Gradebook
• Documents or files NOT placed in the SHARED folder
• Teachers Favorites (internet)
When a sub is requested to use the teacher computer (i.e.: to show a
Powerpoint), be sure to place the file into the Shared Documents
folder (on the desktop).
It is suggested that teachers open the GUEST Account to verify the sub will have access
to the files they are expected to use.
Page 6 of 46 Teacher Technology Handbook, updated 6/29/10

SCHOOL-WIDE TV BROADCASTS
Rooms 162, 164, 165, 190, 261, 262, 263, 265
Set-up: No switch, cable directly from wall to VCR.
VCR is hooked up to TV by RCA or antenna cable.
FOR BROADCAST
Set VCR to Channel 3
NOTE: The VCR MUST BE SHOWING ON THE TV (e.g. insert a videotape
and it plays on the TV)
If necessary, use the VCR remote to change from TV to VCR, OR insert and play
a videotape for a moment then stop.
FOR LATER VCR USE
No change is necessary.
Rooms 161, 191 (ISC), 205, 212
Set-up: No switch, cable directly from wall to TV.
VCR is hooked up to TV by RCA cable.
FOR BROADCAST
Set TV to Channel 3
FOR LATER VCR USE
Set TV to correct Line Input for VCR/DVD.
Rooms 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 163, 171 (music), 206, 232, 233, 234,
235, 236, 237, 264, 266
Set-up: Switch between wall/VCR and TV.
VCR is hooked up to TV by antenna cable.
FOR BROADCAST
Set TV to Channel 3
Slide switch from “ANT” to “CABLE”
FOR LATER VCR USE
Slide switch from “CABLE” to “ANT”.
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JMC IP GRADEBOOK BASICS
Revised February 2008
Reviewed and updated June 29, 2010
The next few pages will lead you through your first use of the Gradebook program.
Customized video’s and information for PACT is available at the PACT Moodle site
(http://pact.erdc.k12.mn.us) under Professional Development, and full User Guides are
online at JMC’s website (www.jmcinc.com).
Topics covered will be:
Starting the JMC Gradebook Program
Setting Grade Cutoffs
Creating Grade Categories by Course
Creating Assignments within Categories
Entering Assignment Scores
Start JMC IP Gradebook
The Gradebook program is already installed on your computer and ready for you to
logon.
The logon names for teachers are typically the first initial followed by a period and then
their last name (with some exceptions for exceptional names). You must have a user
name and initial password assigned by the tech staff. Without a valid user name and
password you cannot access the internet Gradebook data.
After you logon you’ll see the main Gradebook screen.
If you get the box below, it means that
you have been using the program on a
different computer and forgot to exit the
program. When you override, you may
lose data. ALWAYS remember to exit
the IP Gradebook program when not in
use!
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Update Course List and Class Roster
To get the current list of courses and students, choose File then Office to Teacher.
You’ll see two progress bars, one after the other, as data files are downloaded from the
Office server, followed by a “completed successfully” message. Click the OK button for
the “completed successfully” message.
You’ll need to follow this step whenever the office changes your class assignment
(adding, removing, or changing a course assigned to you), when your class enrollment
changes, or when standards and benchmarks used for one (or more) of your classes are
changed. You will do this frequently the first 2 weeks of classes at the beginning of the
year and at the beginning of 2 nd semester.
It's easy to see your current class lists. Start from the main screen and click on “Reports”
then select “Blank Score Sheets”. You'll be able to select a single course or print pages
for all courses currently assigned to you.
Students who move out of your class will remain in your roster but will be grayed out. To
remove these permanently, at the top of the screen, choose ‘Options…’ then select
‘remove inactive students permanently.’
Grade Cutoffs
The next step is to enter the letter grade symbols and percentage cutoffs.
From the main Gradebook screen click on Scores then on Grade Cutoffs. Enter the letter
grades and percentage cutoffs as summarized in the following table:
1 st & 2 nd Grade MATH Symbol Cutoff Symbol Cutoff
Symbol Cutoff Symbol Cutoff A 4 O 93% D+ 1+ U+ 67%
4 100% 2- 77% A- 4- O- 90% D 1 U 63%
4- 97% 1+ 73% B+ 3+ S+ 87% D- U- 60%
3+ 93% 1 70% B 3 S 83% F 59%
3 90% 1- 1% B- 3- S- 80% 1- 1%
3- 87% 0 0% C+ 2+ I+ 77% 0 NA 0%
2+ 83% Approved by C 2 I 73% Approved by Steering
Administration
2 80%
C- 2- I- 70%
Italicized symbols and cutoffs pertain to elementary use only.
Click on the “Copy to Other Classes” button, then “Copy to ALL classes”. Click on the
“Done” button to complete Grade Cutoff entry and return to the main screen.
Categories and Assignments
The nest step is to set up your Categories into which Assignments will be organized.
From the main screen select “Scores” then “Categories and Assignments”.
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First, we'll create a Category. Select a Course, e.g. “E MATH”. In the “Category Name”
field enter the text “Daily Work”. Enter 10.0 as the Category “Weight”. Click the
“Enter” button to save this Category and continue.
Next, click the “Add Category” button.
Next, click the “Add Assignment” button.
Into the “Assignment Name” field enter “Day 1” as the descriptive name. Enter “10” as
the “Max Score” and “6-1-06” as the Date. Click on the “Enter” button. That's it. For one
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Course you've just created your first grading Category and your first Assignment in that
Category.
Assignment Scores
Now we'll enter an Assignment Score. From the main screen click “Scores” then
“Assignment Scores”. You'll see a class list with enrolled Student Names in the left
column and Assignment names across the top row. The Assignments for this Course will
be listed by Date, left to right; this is one reason why the Assignment Date is important
when creating the Assignment.
If it's not already selected, first select the desired Course from the pull-down list. Select
“E MATH” again.
If it's not already highlighted, click in the cell under the “Daily Work” Assignment
column and in the first student's row.
Notice that the Maximum Score for this Assignment is also in the Assignment cell, just
beneath the Date. Now enter a Score for this first Student. First, enter “12” and press the
“Enter” key (or the down-arrow key, or click in the next student's cell). The program will
warn you that this score is greater than the Assignment's maximum score. If the student
earned more than the maximum (e.g. through an optional problem) you can tell the
Gradebook to use the higher score, or you can click “No” and change that entry. Click
“Yes” and continue.
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At any point when entering scores you may click the “Save” button to preserve your data
entry, then return to change or enter additional scores later. You will be prompted to save
your work whenever you change to a new Course, too.
Before you enter the score for a student the cell has a score of “none” and shows a small
dot. A “none” score does not immediately reduce the student's Course grade. Processing
grades later you'll be able to convert missing scores to zeros, so they will then affect the
student's grade. If this score is not to be changed to a zero, enter an “x” (for “excused”)
to remove this score from grade calculations.
As you enter scores, if the button above the right-hand column shows “Current” then the
right-hand column will automatically update after each score to show the student's
current grade, including the newly entered score.
When finished entering scores click the “Done” button to return to the main screen.
Other Score Screen Features
Double-click on a student name and you'll see a printable Progress Report for that student
(you can also click the “Print Student” button at the bottom of this window). This will
show all assignments and scores for this student in this Course.
In the Student Name cell, at the right side, you'll notice a blue circle with an “i” in the
middle. Click on this blue button and the program will pop-up a window with the
student's parent or guardian (“primary contact”) information from the office, including
the parent's email address and telephone number, if available.
Ending the Program
From the main screen just click “File” then “Exit”. The program will upload your
changed data files with assignments and scores, then pop-up a window titled “Update
Online Progress Reports”. In this window is a field for the “Publish Reports Through”
date. This is how you can control which scores and assignments are available for parents
to see online.
This completes the detailed directions for preparing JMC IP Gradebook Basics.
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JMC IP GRADEBOOK ADVANCED
Revised February 2008
Reviewed and updated June 29, 2010
Assuming that you are familiar with at least the basics, now we will cover these topics:
Adding Comments
Adding Course Comments for Progress Reports
Adding Course Comments for Midterm Reports
Adding Course Comments for Term End Report Cards (Secondary Only)
Adding Standards Comments for Report Cards (Elementary Only)
Assignment Score Notes
Assignment Categories:
Stand-alone Categories
Extra Credit Categories
Low Scores to Drop
Calculate Using Weights or Total Points
Sending Grades and/or Standards and Benchmarks to Office
Sending Progress Reports to Office
Online Parent Access
Known Stumbling Points
Sending Progress Reports, Midterm, or Term-end Grades
Category Weights
Updating Class Lists
Manually Selecting Grades
Customized video’s and information for PACT is available at the PACT Moodle site
(http://pact.erdc.k12.mn.us) under Professional Development, and full User Guides are
online at JMC’s website (www.jmcinc.com).
Adding Comments
Comments are short messages you either select from a pre-defined list or enter as a
custom value to be printed on progress reports or report cards, which are sent to the
students' parents or guardians.
For periodic Progress Reports you can select a comment from a pre-defined list, or enter
a custom comment in the “Additional Comments” field. When entering or editing a
progress report you select the desired course then highlight the individual student name.
When the name is highlighted click on one or more lines in the “Comments” box; a check
mark will appear next to each comment to be printed (multiple comments may be
selected). If the pre-defined comments don't quite match what you want to say, just click
in the “Additional Comments” box and type your message.
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For Midterm and Secondary Term-End Report Cards, you can select only one
comment from a list defined by the office. The teacher cannot add or change these
comments, and you cannot enter a “custom” comment.
For Elementary Term-End Report Cards, custom comments are used through the
Standard and Benchmark feature. Comments are covered on pages 34 (computer), 36-37
(all other classes).
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To select a comment for the midterm or term-end, start the Gradebook program and click
on “Edit” in the top menu, then select either “Midterm” or “Course” (for term-end
grades). Click in the cell under the “Cm” column across from the desired student name to
select (highlight) the cell, then click on the desired comment from the right side of the
window.
After you select comments just click the “Save” button to save your changes, then click
“Done” to return to the main menu. If you want to quit without saving the changes, then
click “Done” and click “No” when asked, “Do you want to save changes you made?”
Assignment Score Notes
Related to Comments are your notes for individual assignment scores. When you are in
the score entry screen (from the main screen click on “Scores” then “Assignment
Scores”) as you enter scores you may also enter a free-hand Score Note to which you
may later refer and which will be printed on student Progress Reports.
To enter a Score Note just select the desired score (the “12” in the illustration below),
click on “Options” and select “Edit Score Note.” Enter the note text and click “OK.”
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Scores which have an associated note will display with an asterisk (*) following each
score. This is your visual cue that you've left a note with this score. If you want to
remove a score note just select the score, click “Options” and “Edit Score Note” then just
erase the note text and click “OK”. The asterisk will disappear along with the note text.
Refer to pages 38-42 to see how using Assignment Score Notes will be available to the
online progress report.
Categories: Stand-alone & Extra Credit Categories
In the Categories and Assignments screen (from the “Scores” menu choice) you'll notice
several choices when you create or edit a category.
One choice is to click on the box labeled “stand-alone category” and this is useful for a
category which will have only one score for each student, such as a final exam, and will
count as a single item toward the course grade. You'll be able to enter the category weight
toward course grade, the maximum score, and the date of scoring (which is used to order
this item in the list for student score entry and to determine if it should be included in
mid-term reports).
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Stand-alone or not, you can also make this an “extra credit category”. This category will
benefit students who receive a score, but will not result in a penalty for students who do
not receive a score.
Unless you note it in the category name you'll see no indication that this is extra credit
item when you enter scores, nor is it noted on the student progress report. When you are
in the “Categories and Assignments” screen you will see a “Categories Total” and an
“Extra Credit Total” at the bottom-left corner of the window. Just click on each bold
Category name to see if it is marked as an extra credit category.
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An extra credit category may be a stand-alone or it may have individual assignments.
Categories: Low Scores to Drop
Enter a number in the “# of low scores to drop” box and this many of the lowest scores in
this category will be dropped before a grade is calculated. If this number is larger than the
number of assignment scores in this category you will effectively remove this category
from impacting your grades.
Categories: Calculate Using Weights or Total Points
When you create or edit a category you can indicate if this course's grade will be
calculated with weighted categories, or if everything will be calculated by total points. If
“Total Points” is selected in the top-left corner of the Categories and Assignments screen,
then each point awarded will be equal; five points for daily work will be equal to five
points on a test.
If the course grade will be calculated by weights, then each category will contribute a
weighted value toward the final grade, regardless of the number of items in the category,
or the point value of each item. For example, you might want tests to count 30% of the
final grade, but you may want each test to be graded with ten points each. You might also
want to evaluate projects with a detailed rubric which would allow up to 100 points per
project, but the projects in total will only count as 25% of the final grade. With weighted
categories you won't worry about how many project or tests are completed, or how they
are scored.
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Selecting to calculate the course grade by weights will allow you to also select whether
the assignments within the category are to carry equal weight toward the category (again,
regardless of individual point values), weight by points (proportional to the maximum
points per item), or “user defined” weights. User defined weights allow you to weigh
important projects more than others, even if they are scored on the same scale.
Sending Grades to the Office (Secondary Term-End Report Cards)
With the JMC IP Gradebook program it is fairly easy to
prepare and submit your term-end grades to the office. Since
the Gradebook links to the school's web server you do not need
to tell it where on the network to send your grades; the
program already knows this. Under the “Edit” menu you can
select the “Calculate All Classes”, where the program
calculates each student's grade based on the scores and weights
you've specified. You can also select the “Course Grades” item
under “Edit” and calculate the grades for each class one at a
time.
We recommend that you calculate individual classes; you can
review each calculated grade to be sure that they are
reasonable. You can also select the report card comments for
students (discussed above).
Once you know you have your term-end grades and
comments ready, just select “File” and “Teacher to Office”,
select any combination or items to send, and click “OK”.
The web server will deliver your grade file to prepare it for
processing by the office staff.
This completes the detailed directions for preparing JMC IP Gradebook Advanced and
Term End Report Cards.
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Known Stumbling Points
We've found several common stumbling points in processing student grades.
First, please be sure to update your class lists before submitting grades to the office. If
there are any enrollment changes in the office, the changes will not be reflected in your
Gradebook data until after you do the “Office to Teacher” operation. If a student is
moving between two sections of the same course, be sure you have a record of their
scores; their old scores are lost and can't be copied to the other class.
Remember the difference between sending Progress Reports and Grades (Term-End
or Midterm). Since you will send Term-End grades and Midterm grades (both) twice a
year, you may forget a few steps of the procedure. We've had teachers send progress
reports when we needed mid-term grades, or term-end grades when we needed progress
reports. Please check the instructions and follow the printed steps each time a report is
due.
When preparing Progress Reports be sure there is a checkmark left of each student's
name before you send the report. Often teachers will check students in only one class, or
check no students, and the progress report which is then sent is empty.
Grade deadlines are critical for coordinating processing with the office staff. We have
had occasions in which we've needed to send out corrected report cards when the teacher
sent incomplete grades by the deadline, then send updated grades several days later,
without notifying the office staff. In the meantime the office staff told the office program
to read the submitted grades and began preparing report cards. If there is any failure to
meet the deadline be sure to notify the office staff.
Weighted grades have also caused some confusion. Consider the weighting carefully,
consider how much weight each assignment will have in the final grade. We had an
incident in which a teacher inadvertently created two Essay categories, each marked to be
30% of the final grade; one of the categories had only one essay in it, and the other
category had seven or eight essays. This resulted in that first essay by itself counting 30%
of the final grade (rather than the intended 3-4% as one of about ten essays), The other
essays had the same 30% weight toward the final grade, even though there were eight
times as many as that first category. The first essay scores had to be re-entered into a new
assignment under the correct category before the wrong category could be deleted.
Calculated grades may be locked to a teacher-selected value rather than calculated. When
you manually enter grades you should remember that parents can still see progress
reports which include the grade calculations as a percentage, just like the grade cutoffs
you entered in the first session. This can result in some confusion, especially if the
teacher is not available to answer questions (such as early Summer). We'd suggest
sending the office staff a note to indicate why you manually entered a student's grade
rather than using the calculated grade. Again, this will save time and embarrassment.
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GRADE REPORTS
October, 2007
There are two types of grade reporting which we conduct: Term-End Report Cards and
Midterm Grades. We also produce Progress Reports on occasion, and parents can view
up-to-date progress reports on-line.
In every case we are assuming that you have a current course and class roster using the
“File” → “Office to Teacher” function.
Term-End Report Cards
Secondary Term-End Report Cards
(For Secondary, see ‘Sending Grades to the Office’ Section, on page 19)
Elementary Term-End Report Cards
Report Cards are done quarterly, with a Term-End (semester end) score along with
Quarter 2 grades and again at the end of Quarter 4 (the end of the school year). To permit
the use of many custom comments on the report card, and to include Character Qualities,
we will make very limited use of the Standards and Benchmarks features of JMC. SEE
PAGES 33-37.
Although we’ll cover this in more detail elsewhere, in summary you will be able to use
a “Comment 1” standard in most Elementary courses to enter unique comments for each
student, “Comment 2” for your Math courses, and for Computer courses a standard for
comments and two standards for WPM and accuracy values. “Comment 3” is for 5 th and
6 th grade Social Studies, and “Comment 4” is for 5 th and 6 th grade Science.
Grades for courses will be calculated from the assignment scores and the appropriate
symbol will be printed on the Elementary Report Card.
Midterm Grades (Secondary)
We will prepare and report midterm grades in two steps and assemble the results into the
final packets of materials.
First we will prepare midterm grades, then we will prepare progress reports for the same
period of time, based on the cut-off date assigned by the administrative offices.
Summary of Steps for Midterm Grades:
Enter Assignment Scores.
Set midterm cutoff date in the Assignment Scores
window.
Review grades and select comments in the Edit →
Midterm Grades window for each course.
Send Midterm Grades to Office (File → Teacher to Office).
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We cover creating Categories and Assignments in which to enter scores in great detail
elsewhere. Please review the relevant materials for items like grade cutoffs and other
pieces like this.
Set the Midterm Date
From the Main GradeBook screen open the “Scores” menu and select “Assignment
Scores.”
If you do not see the correct term, click the “Done” button to return to the main screen,
open the “Term” menu and select the appropriate term (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, T1, T2, or T3)
then return to the Assignments Scores window.
Near the top-right corner of the Assignments Scores window, to the right side of the
assignment name row, is a button which will read either “Current” or “Midterm.” Click
on this button if you need to change it. It must read “Midterm” to proceed.
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When the button reads “Midterm” them you will see a date field just below the button.
Into this field you must enter the office-assigned Midterm date for each course. The
GradeBook program will compare this date to your Assignment dates to decide which
assignments to include in the midterm grade. Assignments dated after this date will not
contribute to the midterm grade, but will be included in the term-end grade.
If a grade (or a "no grade") is enclosed in a box (as with the top grade in the image
above), then the grade is "locked" -- it is selected directly by the teacher rather than
calculated from scores. Click on the box (or calculated grade) and the program will
present a list of all defined grade symbols for this course; select the desired grade if you
want to override the calculation, or select "Calculated" to unlock the grade and have the
program determine a grade from the scores.
After you enter the midterm date for each course then just click "Save." Click "Done"
after the last course to return to the main menu screen.
Review Midterm Grades and Lock Grades
From the main screen open the “Edit” menu and select “Midterm Grades.”
You select a course from the pull-down list, just like on the "Assignment Scores" window
or the "Categories and Assignments" window. For each course you'll see the list of
enrolled students with the current grade (calculated or locked). Review the grades for
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your class. If any of the grades do not appear reasonable, based upon your knowledge of
your students and class, please return to the Assignment Scores window and check that
student's data for errors.
You can override ("lock") individual student grades from this "Midterm Grades" window,
but the process is a little different than in the Assignment Scores window. Click on a
student grade. If the selected grade is calculated, then the button near the bottom-left
corner of the window will read "Lock Grade". You can click this button to lock the
currently displayed grade (score changes will not recalculate this student's grade), or you
can select a different Grade symbol from the column down the center of the window. If
the selected grade is "locked," not calculated, then the bottom-left button will change to
read "Unlock Grade".
If a grade is locked, just click the “Unlock Grade” button to use the calculated value.
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Add Midterm Comments
While you are in this "Midterm Grades" window you may also select report card
comments to include for any of your students. Unlike Progress Reports, the midterm and
term-end comments are restricted to a list defined by the administrative office, and you
can select only one comment per student (per course). You cannot enter a free-form
comment. If you feel a strong need for additional comments, or you believe that some of
the included comments should never be used at PACT, please advise the administrative
assistant as a suggested change.
To add a comment for a student, first go to the desired course. Click in the "Cm" column
adjacent to the student name and term grade. While this cell is highlighted click on the
desired comment from the right-hand column (scroll up and down if necessary). The
program will enter the ID number for the comment, and the text for this comment will be
printed on the student's report card, next to this course grade. Some of these comments are
longer than this column is wide, so you might want to confirm the current wording before
you use a new comment. These comments are totally separate from the Progress Report
comments.
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Printing Midterm Grades
You may want a printed record of the midterm grades and comments you send to the
office. This can provide a backup and reminder of the grades which were sent, especially
if a student later receives a score for an assignment which would have been included in
grade calculations. This may also be important to help you review the comments which
you selected for students.
While you are in the "Midterm Grades" window first select the desired course, then open
the "Options" window (near the top-left corner of the window) and select "Print This
Class".
This will produce a report for this course with your name, the course information , and
the date and time the report was printed. Student names are alphabetical and the
comments are not truncated.
Sending Midterm Grade to the Office
Send midterm grades and term-end grades in the same way.
From the main screen open the “File” menu and select
“Teacher to Office.”
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You’ll need to tell the program what to send – be sure to check at least “Grades” and
“Standards and Benchmarks.” Checking “MN High Standards” won’t matter whether
checked or not. Click the “OK” button to actually send the data.
Unless the program reports an error during this process, you are done.
In the office we will be able to combine the information sent by all teachers and produce
a simple midterm report like this:
As you’ll notice, there is not a lot of detail in the midterm reports. For more detail we’ll
be using Progress Reports in addition to midterm reports.
This completes the detailed directions for preparing secondary Midterm Report Cards.
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Progress Reports
Using this Progress Report process the office can prepare report for each student (or
selected students) to show their progress in the current term through a specified date. The
reports include all grading details such as category weights and individual assignment
details.
Summary of Steps for Progress Reports:
Enter Assignment Scores.
Create a new Progress Report in the Reports → New
Progress Reports Setup window.
Set Report Date for each Course.
Select Print All for each Course.
Include Score Summary For Each Student.
Review grades and select comments for each student as
appropriate.
Send Progress Reports to Office (Reports → Send Progress
Reports to Office).
Create a New Progress Report
From the main screen open the “Reports” menu and select “New Progress Report Setup.”
You’ll need to give the progress report a name (to edit it later, if necessary, and to select
the correct one to send to the office).
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Just enter an appropriate name and click the OK button. Once named you’ll see a
Progress Report screen similar to the one below.
For mid-term use you’ll select a Course from the pull-down list in the top-right corner;
the button will show the currently selected course name. Enter the office-assigned
Report Date in the field near the top-left corner. Click on the boxes by “Include Present
Grade For Each Student” and “Include Score Summary For Each Student” to select
both options (a “√” checkmark should display in each box when selected).
Click on the “Print All” button near the bottom-left corner of the screen; this should
display a checkmark next to every student name for this Course. The program will
prepare progress reports only for students selected with a checkmark by their names.
Highlight an individual student’s name and click on one (or more) Comments in the right
column; Click in the “Additional Comments” box to type a comment for this student;
you can have several selected Comments plus the typed Additional Comments for any
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students. These comments are totally separate from the Report Card comments (midterm
or term-end).
Repeat these steps for each Course. Especially note that the “Print All” button affects
only this Course; you need to “Print All” for each Course. Be sure “Include a Summary
for Each Student” is checked, in order to get the detail.
When you are finished setting up this Progress Report, or if you need to interrupt the
operation, click on the “Done” button to return to the main screen.
Edit Progress Report Setup
If you have a Progress Report you’d previously started but now need to finish, or you
want to use an old progress report with a new Report Date, from the main screen open the
“Reports” menu and select “Edit Progress Report Setup.”
You’ll be given a chance to select one of your previously defined Progress Reports.
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Choose the appropriate Progress Report by name. You’ll see the same screen as when
you created a new Progress Report, but with all of the selections and comments you’d
previously entered.
Sending Progress Reports to Office
From the main screen open the “Reports” menu and select “Send Progress Reports to
Office.”
Select the appropriate Progress Report which you’ve previously created (and, perhaps,
edited) and click on the “Choose” button.
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When you click the “Choose” button, the GradeBook program will send the information
to a network location from which the Office can retrieve it.
If everything goes well you should see a confirmation message, “The Progress Report
was sent successfully.”
Click the “OK” button and you’ll return to the GradeBook main screen.
This completes the detailed directions for preparing Progress Reports.
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ELEMENTARY REPORT CARDS
Note: Tutorial step-by-step video CD is available that covers elementary report cards.
2
Calculating Overall Grades
Calculations will be determined by your graded assignments.
1
1. Verify Term [Quarter]
2. Select Course Grades from the Edit menu
3. Choose the class from the Course drop menu
4. Next, weights will have to be set for EACH
QUARTER for EACH COURSE (class) before
calculating grades.
a. Click on the Weights->
b. The Edit Course Weights box appears. Set
each Quarter to 1 – this gives equal weight to
the quarters. Click OK.
(Consult with Administration if you desire to set different
weights per quarter)
3
4 b 4 a
5
5. The Course Grades window for the class appears. Next,
select Options… and Calculate for the current Quarter.
6. At the end of a term (Q2 & Q4) Select Calculate the
current Semester Grades. This generates the Semester
grade. (All grades [Q1,Q2, S1, etc.] will appear on the
student Report Card.) Click DONE or SAVE after each
class.
DO NOT SELECT ANY COMMENTS! Only typed comments appear on the report card.
6
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Entering WPM, Accuracy, and Comments for Computer Classes
7. Again, VERIFY term [Quarter]
8. Select Edit, then Edit Assessments for a Student
a. Used with Computer Classes
b. Used with Character Qualities (See Section C )
9. Again, find the Course from drop down menu
10. By default, TODAY’S DATE and the first student in the class list appears.
8
9
10
11. CHANGE the
DATE if it
does not match
the CUTOFF
DATE
provided by
the office.
Follow steps in
#4 above.
12. Choose each student thru the drop down list.
12
13. The Subject Area: Enri Enrichment Studies.
Standards: All Standards are displayed.
a. Use the STD Elem Computer
comment field to type freehand
comments.
b. Use the other fields for AWPM &
Typing Accuracy. DO NOT TYPE
THE % SIGN (It will appear on the
report card; Do not try to enter data
into the Result ID)
13
13 a
13 b
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How to Enter Attitudes and Work Habits
14. Select Edit, then Edit Assessments for a Student
15. From the Course/Grade drop menu, select the Grade 0x (found at the bottom of
the list)
16
15
16 a
Q1
16. In Student view, it is required to Add Initial Assessment Set. Use the CUTOFF
DATE supplied by the office.
a. The Term needs to be Quarter 1, 2, 3,
or 4, not semesters S1 or S2.
b. The Add a new Assessment Set Box
appears. Enter the quarter Cut-off date,
then CHOOSE the Quarter from the
drop menu.
(Note: if there are mixed terms – S1 and Q1, you will need to
delete the assessment set date, and add a new one, but use a
different date – the next day)
17. All the Standards (Character Qualities) and
Benchmarks (Attitudes and Work Habits) are
displayed.
a. Place the cursor in the Result ID box
b. Then click on the Results symbols.
16 b
17
17 a
17 b
TIP: The cursor will
advance to the next
benchmark
automatically.
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How to Add Comments
Applies to all elementary teachers for Report Cards
18. Verify term [Quarter]
19. Select Edit, then Edit Assessments for a Course or Grade
• Used with majority of reporting
• NOT used with Computer class or Character Qualities
20. Find the class from the Course/Grade drop down menu
21. Select Add; the Assessment Settings box appears.
a. In the Choose Assessment Date, type in the CUT OFF DATE for end of
the Quarter Grades – date provided by the office
b. UNCHECK Cumulative …
c. Then choose Hand-enter Results
20
21
21 a
21 b
21 c
22. Verify:
a. Date is the set CUT OFF Date
If returning to finish, use the drop down menu to select the correct date!
b. Subject Area is set: COMM Comments; and Standard: 0001 Comment 1
i. Math Courses, the Standard will be: 0002 Comment 2
ii. 5/6 Social Studies Standard will be: 0003 Comment 3
iii. 5/6 Science Standard will be: 0004 Comment 4
c. Term [Current Quarter]
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23. Type your comments in the Comment field. The curser will stop when it has
reached the maximum data entry for the field. It is approximately 50
characters/spaces.
FYI: Use TAB key to move between students.
22 a
22 b
22 c
23
IMPORTANT: Comments will not be removed between quarters, but will be
overwritten by entering a NEW COMMENT or a SPACE in the comment field.
FINALLY, after repeating this for ALL COURSES, perform the TEACHER TO
OFFICE, with GRADES and STANDARDS & BENCHMARKS checked.
Page 37 of 46 Teacher Technology Handbook, updated 6/29/10

ONLINE PROGRESS REPORTS
Information for Teachers
November 2007
Reviewed and updated 6/29/10
The JMC GradeBook program can be an effective way to keep parents and students up to
date on current student progress. There are just a few simple steps to follow to make best
use of this software.
Online Parent and/or Student Access
As you may already know, parents can view student progress reports through the internet.
Parents will be able to view their student's progress, course by course, with the maximum
scores for assignments, weights toward course grades, and the student's actual scores and
score notes. Parents must be the student's “primary contact” and they must register a
password with the tech office to gain access to this information. The Online Parent
Access form is available online in the Forms area.
Students have all been set up to view their progress reports. They access their progress
reports from PACT’s website through the Student Online Access Page (FOR
STUDENTS>Progress Reports or directly through their Moodle page.)
Note: The actual internet address for online access changes every school year. The Tech
Office can provide this to anyone having problems accessing the service.
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Updated Scores and Comments
Perhaps the most important action is to enter scores promptly after assignments are
turned in. Assignments provide us with assessments of student progress and scores
provide the feedback they need to either keep on-track or to change course. Without
prompt feedback through scores a student may continue to lose ground for weeks and be
unable to make necessary improvements.
The JMC GradeBook allows you to enter comments (“score notes”) for individual
assignment scores. These comments are available to parents and students through the online
progress reports, and they’ll print in the detailed progress reports for students.
In the Assignment Scores window just select the score to which to attach a note, then
click “Options” and select “Edit Score Note…”
A small window will pop up which will show the assignment score and you’ll have space
in which to write a brief note. Please keep in mind that this note is available to
parents on-line; it will be convenient for you to keep notes to yourself about a
student’s score (e.g. “late”), but remember that these notes may be read by others.
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If you have entered a note for a score, then that score will display with a small apostrophe
after it, as shown in this enlarged image.
As a teacher you can easily read these notes by selecting the score, then select Options,
and Edit Score Note, just as when you first created the note. To delete a note just use
Edit Score Note and delete contents of the note (the program will remove the note if it is
left blank).
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Viewing Assignment Score Notes
As a teacher you can view score notes from the Assignment Scores window by just
editing the notes, one at a time.
You can also view these notes through the different Progress Report screens. For
example, from the Assignment Scores window you can highlight a student name in a
course and click the “Print Student” button at he bottom of the window; this prepares a
progress report for the selected student in the selected course for the selected term, as
shown in the next image.
This same information will be included in the Progress Report submissions prepared
through the office, and through the On-Line Progress Reports available to parents and
students.
Publishing Scores On-Line
Now we know how to enter a comment (“note”) for an individual assignment score and
what it looks like in progress reports. The only thing left is to “publish” it on-line.
When you select File then Exit in the JMC GradeBook program, first you’ll see a
progress window showing your GradeBook files being transferred back to the server. The
next window, “Update Online Progress Reports,” lets you, the teacher, determine the
date through which completed or pending assignments will be available on-line to parents
and administrators. If you click the “Cancel” button, then your newly entered
assignments, scores, and notes will not be available online.
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If you’ve created assignments with future due dates, you may choose to change this date
to include those upcoming assignments (to help parents help students with time
management planning).
This completes the detailed directions for Score Notes and Online Progress Reporting.
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Using the GradeBook Program from Home
It is fairly easy to use the GradeBook program from home, if you have a computer
available and Internet access. You can download and install the “IP GradeBook” (for
Macintosh or Windows) from www.jmcinc.com -- use the address
http://206.131.150.58:8080/JMC/JMC_CGI_YYYY.DLL
(Y=school year, ie: 0910) for the “Server URL” when you start the program
Guy and Shari have a small program (a “self extracting zip file”) which we can email to
you to automate most of this installation. It will place the program on your C: drive,
create a Start Menu shortcut, and pre-set the Server URL.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when using the GradeBook from multiple
locations is to exit the program at the end of each session. Whether you use the
program from a school computer or from home, the program will copy your current
GradeBook files from the server to your local workstation, then work with this local
copy. When you exit the program it will transfer these files back to the server and remove
them from your local computer (the program file is not affected).
If you have the program open on one computer, then start it again from a second
computer, then you will not see any changes you made on the first computer; and changes
you make from the second computer will be lost when you later close the program on the
first computer. Please exit the GradeBook program when you are not actively using
it.
Questions and Help
If you have questions about this program, please check the on-line resources at the school
website and the manuals at www.jmcinc.com; you may also ask peers at school or Guy
and Shari for help.
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Period/
Hour
1-8:00
1-8:15
1-8:30
1-8:45
2-9:00
2-9:15
2-9:30
2-9:45
3-10:00
3-10:15
3-10:30
3-10:45
4-11:00
4-11:15
4-11:30
4-11:45
4-12:00
5-12:15
5-12:30
5-12:45
5-1:00
6-1:15
6-1:30
6-1:45
6-2:00
7-2:15
7-2:30
7-2:45
3:00
3:15
3:30
3:45
4:00
4:30
5:00
Computer Lab Availability 2010-11
You must sign up in advance to use the upper computer lab (room 212). Weekly
availability sheets are posted outside the main classroom door, three weeks in advance.
Daily announcements list upcoming field trips, you may sign up for classroom space
when elementary classes are on a field trip. Secondary teachers: the times listed are in
15 minute increments and do not reflect the secondary schedule. Below is the general
schedule for 10-11 (this is subject to change).
Any “Open” times require teacher supervision!
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
Swinnerton Klismith Hale Ahrendt 1 / 2 Grade Class
Wagner Lambert Wagner Lambert 6 th Grade Class
DeLong
Maki
Oliversen
M T W
Class
R
Open
Barry Mattson 3 / 4 Grade Class
Backowski Backowski Barry
Lemeshevskiy
Lemeshevskiy
M W R
Class
M W
Class
T
Open
T R
Open
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GENERAL INFORMATION
Technology Requisitions
Salmon colored “Tech Req’s” are available in the forms center in the work room and
outside room 223. Provide as much detail as possible. All requisitions are logged and
assist the technology department determine recurring issues, develop training, schedule
priorities and work flow. Priority is given to completed requisitions.
Note: Order blank CD’s or DVD’s along with other supplies through the office.
Software
When purchasing software, be aware of software licensing! The technology department
will install software and retain the original and provide a copy to be used when the
program requires the use of a CD. Tech requisitions received for installing software on
more than one computer will be subject to the licensing.
It is strongly discouraged to have personal software installed on the school computer.
Public Computers / Scanners
There are scanner’s connected to select computers throughout the building. Each
computer that has a scanner connected to it also has a separate Teacher/Staff account.
Labels are on the front of each computer with the computer name. Be sure to log off of
the computer when done using the staff account. The password to access these accounts
are available from the technology department.
Lower/Upper Secondary Commons computers with Teacher/Staff accounts:
S1C003, S1C008, S2C003, S2C007
Lower/Upper Elementary Commons computers with Teacher/Staff accounts:
E1C005, E2C002, E2C005, E2C007
ISC Rm 191 / Media Center computers with Teacher/Staff accounts:
ISC002, ISC003, ISC010, ISC017, LIB003
Networked Printers
There are several printers set-up around the building. Printer access is determined by
location and has been installed on most computers.
HP 8100 172.16.0.4 Upper Elementary Commons
Brother 5250 172.16.0.33 Lower Elementary Commons
HP 8100 172.16.0.3 Lower Secondary Commons
HP 8100 172.16.0.5 Upper Secondary Commons
Brother 5250 172.16.0.32 ISC
HP CP2020 172.16.0.11 Workroom (color printer)
ir5065 Copier 172.16.0.23 Upstairs Copier (outside media center)- need a copier code
ir7095 Copier 172.16.0.24 Downstairs Copier in Workroom
Reference documents for using the Canon Copier are found in the shared
folder on teacher desktops.
Page 45 of 46 Teacher Technology Handbook, updated 6/29/10

Equipment for Checkout
There are digital cameras, camcorders, TV/VCR/DVD carts, and video projectors
available to be checked out. Complete a Tech Request for cameras and camcorders at the
time of checkout and in advance for video projectors, TV/VCR/DVD. Video projectors
will be delivered to the requested location. It is asked that you return the items promptly
when done.
Using Moodle
Beginning school year 2010-11, PACT teachers will be required to use the Moodle online
learning program to provide assignments, study resources and new learning experiences
for our students 24 hours a day!
Using Moodle –Teaching with the Popular Open Source Course Management System
Second Edition, by Jason Cole & Helen Foster is provided separately.
PACT’s Moodle website: http://pact.erdc.k12.mn.us/
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