Many courses have discussions through Blackbaord to engage the class outside of the traditional settings. Many times, especially in hybrid or online courses, instructors wish to grade this engagement. These steps will outline how to create and grade a discussion in the Ultra Experience. First, we will create a graded discussion, then review the student work, then grade the discussion, and lastly post the grades to the Gradebook.
Creating a Graded Discussion
First, you will need to create a Graded Discussion. Under the Discussion settings, ensure that you have checked the box to make the Discussion graded. After the box is checked, you will get assignment details that you may edit.
Under Additional Tools, you can attach a grading rubric, align with goals, or assign to a group.
Reviewing Student Work
Click on the Discussion from within the Gradebook
Your class roster will appear. Click on the first name.
From this student submission screen, you will be able to see all of the contributions the individual student made in the Discussion including their original post and replies they have made on other posts.
Note: Blackboard will run an analysis on the student's contribution to the Discussion. This analysis is on the right side of the student submission page. Original posts and replies may be highlighted green which indicates Blackboard's analysis has marked the post or reply as substantive. This is tool does not determine if the post was submitted on time or after the due date.
Grading Discussion Boards
When you are ready to grade the discussion, just like an assignment, click on the pill to enter the grade. Additionally, you can attach a rubric to the Discussion. Use the arrows to get to the next student's submission.
Posting Grades to the Ultra Gradebook
Exit out of the student submission pages. Click on the Gradebook icon from your Course navigation.
Locate the Discussion. After adding grades, there will be a Post Grades button which will post all grades for all of your students.
