New in Blackboard: Grading in the Blackboard Instructor app

This article is part of a series explaining the enhancements that will be introduced as part of the Blackboard upgrade scheduled for 18-20 January 2019.

The Blackboard Instructor app now allows Instructors and graders to review, annotate and grade student submission attempts and publish the grades back to students on iOS (Apple) and Android devices.

Grading is supported on both phones and tablets. All screen sizes have the same functions, but the interface is slightly different between phones and tablets.

In the Blackboard Instructor app, you can see:

  • Needs Attention – student submission attempts that are available to grade (or have been graded but the grades have not been posted to the Grade Centre*)
  • Posted – submission attempts that are graded and the grades posted to the Grade Centre*
  • Not Yet Submitted – assessment items, such as upcoming assignments, that don’t have submissions yet

*Blackboard indicates that posted grades are published to students. Be assured that this is dependent on the column’s availability in Grade Centre. Students will only see posted grades if the grade column for the assessment is available. The app also indicates if a grade column is hidden from students.

Instructor App Needs Attention

Assessments ‘needing grading’ in the Instructor app

Currently grading is restricted to individual student assignment submissions. You can mark-up student papers with Box View comments and drawings, and complete associated Feedback Rubrics (however, note that the points range and the percentage range rubric types only allow the mid-range grade to be selected at this time). You can also add free text comments.

Instructor App New Box View

Grading using New Box View in the Instructor app

Instructor App Grading using Rubric

Grading using a Rubric in the Instructor app

You will be prompted to ‘view on web’ any assessments or attempts that cannot be graded in the app (e.g. group assignments).

More information including a short video is available about grading in the Blackboard instructor app.

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