PowerGrade Training PowerPoint Lakeland School Corporation August 2008

After working through this training manual, you should be able to: Open your PowerGrade data file from any computer inside LSC Open classes Create categories for assignments Weight your categories Align your assignments to standards Enter grades from home through PowerTeacher and an Internet connection.

Lesson One: Log into the computer

Log onto Novell You will need to check your CONTEXT !!!!

This allows teachers to log in from anywhere in the corporation and have access to THEIR “H” drive – PowerGrade folder

Lesson Two: Opening the PowerGrade data file

Which way is right for you.. There are 2 ways of opening the data file 1. Click on the Application launcher on the desktop 2. Click the START button, ALL PROGRAMS ► and access your PowerGrade

I’ve clicked on the PowerGrade icon…Now what??? As soon as this blue bar shows – 4 th Dimension - up on your desktop CLICK and hold down the ALT key.. *This window is the PowerGrade folder that is located on your local machine, not the network where you need to be!!

OK… so far so good. Don’t I need to have this in my “H” drive?? Yes!!!! To access your “H” drive use the arrow to the RIGHT of the “Look in:” box. Click the arrow and use your mouse to highlight “Mglick on…(H:)”. Once in your “H” drive find the “PowerGrade” folder and highlight it.

Do you see your name?? Find your data file and double click on it.

Lesson Three: PowerGrade 1. Preferences

You can access your preferences in two ways. 1.Click on file with your mouse and go down to Preferences 2.Click on the Preferences “light switch” above your spreadsheet.

You’re in!!! Set your password. Use a combination of letters and numbers to strengthen the security. 1.Type your name in the TEACHERS NAME box 2.Click Change Password 3.Make sure you check this BOX!!! 4.Make sure to click off the Update automatically. 5. All other boxes need to be checked as well.

Changing Password Securing your password… is the first line of defense… Choose a password that is not easy to crack!!

Setting up Attendance & Assignments This will help you see blocks of assignments in PowerGrade Select the checkbox and enter a date range in the fields to specify what assignments appear on the spreadsheet Select the checkbox to hide the Citizenship column on the spreadsheet Select the checkboxes to display the number of total absences and tardies for each student on the spreadsheet

Scores Enter the character(s) you want to use for unrecorded scores on the spreadsheet. Enter the codes you want to use on the spreadsheet that indicate the student earned zero points on an assessment (test / quizzes) Enter the codes you want to use on the spreadsheet that indicate the student has not yet handed in an assignment Enter the codes you want to use on the spreadsheet that indicate the student is exempt from an assignment Choose the option that indicates if you want unrecorded scores to count as “0 points earned” or as exempt

Notification and PowerSchool tabs The birthday Notification is a nice feature. Make sure you’re on the right server. Powergrade.lakeland.k12.in.us

Lesson Four: Setting up Categories

First thing - Categories Click on WINDOWS in the tool bar. Scroll down to Categories Click on NEW CATEGORY to begin entering Categories Then, Enter the name of the category. A default abbreviation will appear in this window. You can edit this abbreviation *** Enter a brief description of the category. This information is available to parents and students through PowerSchool Parent Access

Weighting Categories All categories must total 100.

Lesson Five: Setting up Assignment

Ready to add assignments? To add assignments, click Windows in the task bar, Scroll down to ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments 101 Choose the category for the pull down menu Enter the assignment’s name in the field Enter the assignment weight in the field. You can enter zero (0) to prevent an assignment from being calculated in the student’s final grades, such as to record pretest scores. Enter a brief description of the assignment or assignment instructions Click to associate the assignment to academic standards Click to enter the web address of a resource on the internet to which you would like to link this assignment Enter the date the assignment is due in the field or select the correct due date on the popup calendar The default points possible for the category appear. You can edit this information The default assignment abbreviation appears. You can edit this information. START HERE

Creating a new assignment 1- Click on the WINDOWS tab in the tool bar and select new assignment 2.Fill in the boxes with the appropriate information. See previous slide for definitions. 3.When assigning standards to assignment, click on the standards button and…

Applying standard to assignments Select the content (subject) then the grade level or course

Then select the grade or course level then the standard and indicator Left mouse Click / Hold / Drag / and Drop the stand into Applied Standards box

Lesson Six: Entering grades

Three ways of entering student grades through PowerGrade 1 st Method: Enter grades directly into the spreadsheet by clicking the box you want to fill.

Method #2 – Click on the individual student name to enter individual grade Entering grades #3

Click on the UTILITIES tab Scroll down to the FILL SCORES to MASS FILLING of student grades

Lesson Seven: WebLinks and Comment

WebLinks Click on the WebLink button Copy and paste the URL into the blank

WebLink….. Type the instructions for the students - make sure you click on..open this link in a new browser window. Then Click OK What is in the description window is what will be seen on the Parent / Student web access.. Watch your SPELLING!!

Comments – Student / Parent notes Choose the student from the pop-up menu Displays the personal or school comments you selected To enter a custom comment, enter comment in the field To enter a comment using your personal comment bank or LCS;s comment bank, choose the appropriate option from the pop-up menu and double click the comment code Click to enter the web address of a resource on the Internet to which you would like to link this comment

Creating a Comment Bank 1.Choose Windows > Comment Bank 2.Click Add 3.Enter a code for the comment in the Code Field 4.Enter the frequently-used comment in the Comment field. 5.Click Web Link to enter the web address of a resource on the Internet (optional) 6.Click OK Entering Parent Note: You can choose comments from your own or LCS’s comment bank and enter personalized comments together in the Parent Note field.

Lesson Eight: PowerTeacher

Log in to PowerTeacher Click on UTILITIES to access PowerTeacher from PowerGrade. Or on the LCS website, click on Teacher Portal, and scroll down to PowerTeacher

PowerTeacher’s home page Chair = Attendance Fork / Knife = Meal count – not used by LSC Backpack = Student information – Cumulative grade information Demographics Internet Access statistics for Parent and Students Quick look-up Printer – Printing reports Grade book = for entering assignments and scores from home Personal tab = changing your password Daily Bulletins – mostly LHS & LMS

Things to watch for… Caduceus- Medical alert Shadowed Man -Guardian alert Birthday Candle – Birthday alert Dollar Sign – Money alert

You will need to change your password

To add assignment from Home

Select the Category you are entering grades or creating an assignment for, then fill in the information requested.

Review

You may enter grades for only those student who turned in the homework, and edit from school later….saves time!

You’re done entering grades from home … now what?? When you log onto PowerGrade at school, your work from home will sync and you will be able to see your newly entered grades