Gradebook Entry in the Staff Portal now has a category option, Hide Categories w/o Assessments, that shows a gradebook category only when it has assessments. Teachers see the categories and IB MYP criteria they are grading now, and each category appears in the gradebook as soon as its first assessment is added.
What can schools do with the category option?
Keep the gradebook focused on current units. With Hide Categories w/o Assessments selected, the gradebook checks each category in each marking period it displays and shows that category where it has assessments. Assessment and reported mark columns appear as usual, for the marking periods set by Gradebook Totaling in School Info.
Show every category with one click. Show All Categories, the default, lists every category the course is set up for, including those still waiting for their first assessment.
Let each teacher keep a preferred view. The gradebook remembers each teacher's last choice, so the gradebook opens the same way at the next visit.
Keep report cards complete. The option changes only the columns on screen. Category averages, reported marks and report cards include every category exactly as configured on the course.
Choose the option per gradebook widget. A CMS Portal Administrator can hide the dropdown with the Category Filter Enabled property on the gradebook widget, and that gradebook then shows all categories.
How does the category option help teachers?
A middle school science teacher with MYP criteria for every unit of the year opens the gradebook in the first quarter and sees the criteria for the units under way, ready for grading. As the next unit starts and its first assessment is added, that criterion joins the gradebook in its usual place. Mark types and report card setup stay exactly as the school configured them. For each gradebook option, see Gradebook.
Questions schools ask
Does hiding a category change grades or report cards? No. The option changes which columns the gradebook shows. Category averages, reported marks and report cards are calculated from the full course setup.
Will the gradebook remember my choice? Yes. Each teacher's last choice is saved for that gradebook page.
Can a school show all categories to every teacher? Yes. Set Category Filter Enabled to No on the gradebook widget, and the gradebook shows all categories with the dropdown hidden.
Available now to all PCR Educator schools. Your account team can walk you through the gradebook category option whenever you're ready.