GradingSoftware

Grading Software​

Software Description

=
The purpose of grading systems is to give teachers and administrators the technological support to organize and manage classrooms and educational systems with web based and software systems. By utilizing a web based grading system communication and collaboration across all groups, be it schools, districts, administrators, teachers, parents, or students is achieved. Additionally, grading systems provide organized education technology, performance analysis, parent portals, and grade books. Highlighted characteristics of grading software were found by analyzing [|Thinkwave Educator 3.0], [|Easygrade Pro], [|Complete Gradebook Pro], and [|Powerschool]. Each grading software has the capability to track all aspects of student progress, such as individual subject grades, overall grades, and averages. Furthermore, a student’s attendance, missing assignments, seating, as well as class conduct and citizenship are part of these systems. These grading systems have the capability to generate a variety of reports formatted to a teachers needs, such as pdf’s and visual charts. Teachers are able to customize how they grade by dropping the lowest grade or using numerical, letter, or non-traditional grades. Teachers requiring Spanish and English languages in the management of their classrooms have this option. For navigating these software programs user support is available in the form of resource centers, certification programs, and help menus. ======

Software Maintenance

 Software Maintenance The teacher maintains grading software if used solely in their classroom. When used in district or school wide systems the grading systems are more likely to be maintained by a designated tech person or department. A teacher can organize a specific curriculum based on an individual’s needs, class needs, or a group’s needs. The teacher or faculty is also given the opportunity to assign a student different classes or support programs when necessary.

 Software Training Training is included but it comes in many forms. Most of the software featured comes with an online manual, videos to watch, or a quick –start guide one could download from the web site. A few have an actual live training session and you can sign up through the web site. There is a help menu with instructions included in the software and there is also a resource center that you can call for help.

Concerns

· Is grading software something that all teachers and types of teachers would use? o For instance, some teachers that have been teaching for a long time may already have their ideas of the best way to do their grading, and these teachers may be unwilling to change that. This brings to mind our next question. · Is this method easier than the traditional old ways of grading using grade-books? o Most teachers don’t have extra time in their days to dedicate to learning new software and keeping up with software updates. If the software were actually harder to use than the traditional methods, teachers would have to find more time in their already busy schedules to devote to doing their grading. <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Would all the fancy features of the two more extensive software programs (Thinkwave Educator 3.0 and Powerschool) actually get used? <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New'; msobidifontsize: 10.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: 'Courier New'; msolist: Ignore;">o <span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In order for these software programs to be used to their full extent they have to be used by many different people involved within the school and community. Features for parents to check grading would have to be used from home. Also, in a middle or high school setting, every teacher would have to be using the software in order for a child’s report card to show all their classes. In addition, other people, like the school nurse, may have to be involved in order to incorporate all the features, like immunization and health screening records.
 * A few questions arose while previewing the different types of grading software. Some of these are:**

<span style="display: block; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;"> Features <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; text-align: left;">Some of the software we reviewed included some pretty incredible extra features like supplemental charts and many organizational tools in addition to the expected grading tools. Our group definitely can see ourselves using the software as new teachers but we do have the fear that some of the more seasoned teachers may be resistant to using the new technology.

Comparison

<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">In comparing the four different brands of grading software, we found some positive and negative aspects to some of them. Easygrade Pro and Complete Gradebook Pro both have fewer features, which could be seen as a negative attribute, but the programs may also be simpler to learn. Gradebook Pro, however, is for PC only, whichwe considered to be negative since some teachers might prefer to use Macintosh computers.

A plus for Thinkwave Educator 3.0 and Powerschool is that they both are accessible to not only school employees, but also to students and parents. Powerschool appears to have the most positive traits since it includes the immunization and health screening options, provides school or district-wide access, and also has the options of prerequisite checking, teacher recommendations, family management, address management, boundary validation, and live product demonstrations. For a preview and a 1-5 star rating for each type of software, see below:


 * Complete Gradebook Pro - 2 Stars **


 * Thinkwave Educator 3.0 - 3 Stars **
 * No image available online see** [|**Thinkwave Educator 3.0**]

**Easygrade Pro - 4 Stars**

**
 * Powerschool - 5 Stars