Pima Tech Guides

Importing Grades from External Sources on D2L

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This area contains three different considerations for importing grades. You may use more than one in your import process.

File Format of the spreadsheet or text file- use the File Format checklist (1st list below).

Importing system without using Item Creation- use the 'Importing Grades (No Item Creation)' (2nd list below).

Item Creation during importing grades- use the 'Item Creation in Importing Grades' (3rd list below)

File Format for Importing Grades

1. You can enter grades in another application and import them into Brightspace using a CSV, TSV or TXT file.

You can also create new grade items through an import file by adding a column to the file.

Any grades you import for discussion grade items and assignment grade items are also synchronized back to Discussions and Assignments.

2. The import file must follow a standard format. The file format is as follows:

Field Description Example
Username

A unique name for identifying a user in Brightspace.

You must provide a username or org defined ID (or both).

Frank.Catcher
Org. Defined ID

A unique number for identifying a user in Brightspace.

You must provide a username or org defined ID (or both).

20067930
<Item> Points Grade

Numeric and Pass/Fail grade items should be labeled the grade item name followed by Points Grade.

Users' grades should be the Points Grade the learner received.

For example, 44 points out of a possible 50 points.

44
<Item> Grade Symbol

Select box grade items should be labeled the grade item name followed by Grade Symbol.

Users' grades should be a pre-existing grade scheme symbol.

For example, Very Good, Merit, or 3.5.

Very good
<Item> Text Grade

Text grade items should be labeled the grade item name followed by Text Grade.

Users' grades can be any text value. Text grade items do not count towards users' final grades.

Perfect Attendance!
Adjusted Final Grade Numerator

The total points a user achieved in a course. You can enter a user's percentage grade (without the % sign) if you enter the denominator as 100.

For example, 84 points out of 100 points or 230 points out of 285 points.

84
Adjusted Final Grade Denominator

The total possible points available in a course. Enter 100 if you want to record users' percentage grades.

For example, _ / 100 points available or _ / 285 points available.

100
End-of-Line Indicator

The last column must be labeled End-of-Line Indicator so the system knows when the next set of data begins.

The end of each users' line should be indicated with the pound key #.

#

3. We recommend that you set up your grade book in Brightspace even if you want to enter grades in a CSV, TSV or TXT file. That way, you can use the Export Grades option to create an appropriately structured file.

Images of the aforementioned formats are shown below:

Image of an open CSV file example showing the format of a CSV file
Image of an open TSV file example showing the format of a TSV file
Image of an open TXT file example showing the format of a TXT file

NOTES

  • If you enter a grade value that is greater than the value for the grade item, the grade is capped at the value unless you select the Can Exceed check box when setting up the grade item.
  • Do not import other options, such as a user's first name, email, or weighted grade.
  • To improve performance when importing grades for large classes, only import grade items that have changed and import by group or section when possible.
Importing Grades (No Item Creation)

1. On the course home page, click on the Grades tab.

Image of the D2L course Homepage with the Assessments tab highlighted and labeled 1 and the Grades option highlighted and labeled 2

2. On the Enter Grades page, click Import.

Image of the Grades page with the Enter Grades menu highlighted and labeled 1 in the top left, with an arrow labeled 2 pointing to the Import button in the top left

3. Click the 'Choose File' button under the Import File section to browse for files to import.

Image of the Import Grades page found by clicking the import button on the Grades page

4. Locate the file you want to import, and click Open.

Image of the computer file pop-up window with the Sample Grade excel sheet hihglighted

5. Click the blue 'Continue' button.

Image of the blue Continue and grey Cancel button found at the bottom of the page

6. View error and warning messages associated with the import, and click Continue.

Note: Fields with errors are not imported.

Image of the Import Grades Step 2 Page, with username errors highlighted as an example

7. If there are no errors, the Import Grades page should look like the one shown below:

Image of the Import Grades Step 2 page with no errors or warnings found

8. Preview your import and click Import.

Image of the Import Grades Step 3 page with the Final Adjusted grade cloumn highlighted and labeled 1, and the blue Import button on the bottom of the page labeled 2

9. Once grades are imported, they will be reflected in the final grades of your users - as seen in the image below.

Image of the Enter Grades table with the Student Names and Final Adjusted Grade cloumns highlighted

10. Once you are finished changing the grades of your students, you can click the blue Save button and exit the page.

Item Creation in Importing Grades

1. Select 'Create new grade item when an unrecognized item is referenced' if you want to be able to create new grade items from the import file.

Image of the Item Creation option on the Import Grades page with an image of the Item Creation Information pop-up window informing users that this option creates a new grade item when an unrecognized item is found

2. Select the 'Create New Grade Item' check box beside each of the items you want to create.

Image of the Import Grades Step 2 page with the different imported assignments and types of assignments shown

3. Select a grade item type in the 'Type' column on the right.

Image of the types of assignments showing the Numeric and Pass/Fail options in the Type column

4. Click Continue, then fill in the grade items' properties.

Image of the Import Grades Step 3 page, with all the example assignments shown as examples for changing grade item properties

5. Click the blue 'Continue' button at the bottom of the page to move forward, and click the grey 'Go Back' button to go to the previous page.

Image of the blue Continue button and the gray Go Back and Cancel buttons

6. Any errors found in the imported grades will be pointed out on the next page, Step 4, but you can decide to continue on this page if you wish by clicking the blue 'Continue' button. If you wish to go back, you can use the gray 'Go Back' or 'Cancel' buttons.

Image of the Image Grades Step 4 page showing the errors and warnings found in the imported pages

7. The Preview page will show a table where the grades of different assignments are shown, as well as the new Final Adjusted Grade.

Image of the Import Grades Preview table where all assignments being imported are shown and about to be imported

8. Clicking the blue 'Import' button will bring you to the Grades page, where the new Final Adjusted Grade column will now reflect your imported changes.

Image of the Enter Grades table with the Student Names and Final Adjusted Grade cloumns highlighted

Congratulations! You can now effectively import grades for users within your course!

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