Google Classroom Quiz Assignment vs. Assignment with a Quiz

Have you ever wondered what is the difference between a Quiz Assignment in Google Classroom and an Assignment with a quiz (created on a Google form)? The actual quiz is the same, but if you want to easily transfer grades between Google Classroom and Aspen, then a Quiz Assignment is the best choice. Below is explained the difference between the two, and a third option that allows you to take a previously made quiz and turn it into a Quiz Assignment.

Quiz Assignment - The quiz is created in a Google form that is provided within the assignment.

1. Create a quiz with the form provided.
   
2. In the assignment window, select Grade Importing.
   
3. When the quiz is done, go to Student Work and select Import Grades.
   
4. The grades will go next to the student’s name just like grades that you manually enter in a regular assignment. You don’t need to go to the responses.
   
5. If you use Grade Transferer Chrome extension, you can transfer the grades to Aspen.

Assignment (with a Google form quiz [made in Drive] attached as a link)

To obtain the grades:

1. Open either the Responses or generate a Google Sheet to see the student’s grades.
   
2. Have to manually transfer the grades to Aspen. 

Option #3 - You have a pre-made Google form quiz in Drive, but you would like to be able to use Quiz Assignment to import grades easily:

In Classwork, select Create, Quiz Assignment.

1. Select Drive.
2. Navigate to your quiz.
3. Delete the Blank Quiz.
4. Switch on Grade Importing.
5. Assign.
6. When the quiz is done, follow the directions above from Quiz Assignment to obtain the grades.

How to Post Q1 Grades

How to Enter Quarter Grades in Aspen

Your Aspen gradebook is similar to the paper gradebook that we all used to use.   It’s a private document that only you can see. At the end of each quarter, your student grades and comments must be posted to make them visible to the school and district.

At the beginning of the school year, you should have set up your gradebook details.  The Details page allows you to create your average mode, set up categories, and link classes. To learn more about setting up your gradebook details, see my blog entry Setting up your gradebook in Aspen.

To Post your grades in Aspen Gradebook,

1. Select your first class in your gradebook. Click on the Grade Columns dropdown and select Post Columns - Terms.
2. The Aspen Posting columns will appear. These are

• Q1Grd - Quarter 1 Grade
• Q1ClsAbs - Quarter 1 Class Absences
• Q1Com1 and Q1Com2 - Quarter Comment 1 and Comment 2 field
3. Select Options -> Update Post Columns

5. This will take you through the Update Post Columns wizard.
• Step 1. Select the Grade Term (Q1) and the Grades to update (all students).
• Click Next

• 

  Step 2. Select
• Quarter 1 Grade = Average:Q1
• Q1 Class Absence= Class Absence Total
• Click Next

• Step 3. Confirms the choices made in Step 1 and Step 2.
• Click Finish

   

7. The Q1Grd (Q1 grade) and Q1ClsAbs (Q1 Class Absense) fields should now be populated. The Q1 total field from your gradebook has been copied to the Q1Grd field.
   

   

   
   
8. Add comment codes (see WHS Comment Codes).
   

   

Verifying your Grades

9. Verify your grade in Q1Grd against the grade from your Gradebook which is labeled Q1.
10. If you would like to change the grade, simply click on the grade in the Q1Grd field and change it. Grades that you have modified will be indicated by a red, crossed-out circle.
11. PASS/FAIL Courses If your class is being taken as a Pass/Field, you should change the Q1Grd field from a number to a P or a F. To change the entire column at once, add the P in the first students Q1Grd field and then click CTRL-D. Note the red, crossed-out circle next to the grade. This simply indicates that a modification to the grade was made by the teacher.

Applying the N-Rule (5 or more absences)

11. Determine if N-Rule applies. See N-Rule from Handbook
12. In Aspen, apply the N-Rule using the comment fields
• 100 N-Rule: May lose credit for course due to to attendance issues. Contact school administration.
• 101 N-Rule: Loss of credit, due to attendance issues, under consideration. Contact school administration

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What does the pushpin mean?

• If the pushpin is black ,
  you can enter grades for this column, but you cannot post them to transcripts yet.
• If the pushpin is green with a triangle ,
  you can enter and post grades for this column.
• If the pushpin is red with a square ,
  you already posted the information to transcripts. If you need to change a grade, you will be able to repost your grade for 5 days after the report cards are distributed.  After that, you will need to complete the grade change form (see Guidance department).

---

POSTING Grades

Once you have verified the grades, added comments, and applied the N-Rule if necessary, you can Post your grades. Posting your grades sends a copy of the
grades in the field Q1Grd (and comments) to the report card / student transcript.

13. Once the posting period has opened, the pushpin will turn from black to green.  The green signifies that you can post your grades.
14. To Post your grades,  click Option -> Post Grades
15. 
    The Post Grades pop-up will appear.
    Fill in
• Grade Term = Q1
• Grades to post = Term Grades for all Students.
16. Click Ok
17. Once your grades are posted, your push pin will change from green to red.
18. **IMPORTANT ** You must Post Grades for each class individually.

---

FAQs

• You may re-post your grades as many times as you please until the posting period ends.
• There will be no printed verification sheets.  Instead, you can verify your grades on the Post Columns page of your gradebook (see steps 9 and 10).
• Want a printable copy of this verification page?  

1. Select Reports -> Gradebook Sheet
2. The Gradebook Sheet will appear.  
3. Click Run.
4. The printable version of your Post Columns page of your gradebook will pop-up
5. Select Printer icon at the top of the Gradebook Sheet page.

• If you planning on using the same comment field for most of the students in your class, you can quickly add the comment to all students by using Options -> Fill Down Values or CTRL-D.  Then just change those students who need different comments.

GradeTransferer Chrome Extension

Grade Transferer is a Google extension for teachers who use Google Classroom. This extension can be utilized when transferring grades between Google Classroom and Aspen very quickly.  

A Chrome extension is software that gives the browser extra functionality and is free. When you have an extension it is located to the right of the web address bar. Please view this video about how to put this Chrome extension in your browser and this video that shows you how to use Grade Transferer.

Just a couple of things, though....once in a while it won't put the grade of the last student in the class, so just simply type it in. Secondly, I had changed some grades in Google Classroom, and found that I could overwrite the Aspen grades to the new grades (same process). It will not overwrite a grade with a blank (no credit).

It is definitely a time saver and I highly recommend using Grade Transferer.

How to get the extension

How to use Grade Transferer

Teachpoint: How to Unenroll/Withdraw from a Workshop

Since the 2018-19 school year, Winchester Public Schools have been using Teachpoint to sign up for and keep track of professional development.  Signing up for a workshop is easy, but sometimes you may need to cancel your attendance at a workshop.  No matter the reason, it is important that you unenroll in the first workshop because you may be holding a seat in that workshop that someone else may want.

How to Unenroll in a PD event in Teachpoint

PD Tracking icon

1. Log into Aspen and click on the PD Tracking icon on the lefthand side of the page.
2. Under the My Activities top tab, you should see a list of all workshops/PD events which are currently or have been enrolled.
3. Click on the event title of which you want to unenroll (1).  
   
   
   
   
4. Click on the Withdraw link (2).
5. A Withdraw pop-up window will appear.  Click on the red button starting with Withdraw from followed by the date of the event.
   
   
6. Once step five is completed, you event will be deleted from your list and you will be withdrawn/unenrolled from the event.

Aspen: Viewing Student IEP's

As part of the Special Education Team, classroom teachers are required to reveiw Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for all students in their classes.  

When a student is on an IEP, the IEP icon (right) will appear in the Alerts column associated with the students name on the Student List page in Aspen.

If you click on the icon, a summary of the IEP popup window will appear.  This summary is not the complete IEP.  

IMPORTANT: Reviewing the summary is not adequate and teachers are required to review the complete IEP.  

How to view a students complete IEP

To view the complete IEP, locate the student's name on the Student List page and click the name.  This will take you to the student information page (see below).

Select the Documents link in the left hand column.  This will open up the different types of documents associated with the student record.  Select IEPs.

Then click the word Details.  The complete IEP will appear.
Please note the tabs on the page for Attributes, Vision, PLEB-A, PLEB-B, Goals, etc.   You should toggle through all of these tabs and review each of these subpages.

Aspen: Assignment visibility default setting

Would you like to change the default visibility setting for your assignments in your Aspen gradebook?

The initial default for your Aspen gradebook assignment visibility is private.  This means that only you, the teacher, can see the assignment and the grades visible for that assignment.  

If you would prefer that your assignments have a default setting of public or public no-grades, you must change the preference in the category or categories.  

To change this preference, 

1. Go to your class gradebook (1) and (2)
   
2. Click the Categories (3) tab found on the left hand side of the page
   
3. Click the Category (4) for which you would like to change the default setting (if you want to do this for all, you will have to select each one individually)
   
4. Using the drop down box next to Visibility type, select the default visibility type for the category. 
   
5. Set the visibility type to your preferred default.

Welcome back to the 2019-2020 school year!

A few reminders:

• Technology Issues?  Put in a Help Desk Request.
  To find the Help Desk Request screen, go to this blog
  WPS-TechEd.blogspot.com
  and click on the Help Desk Request tab at the top of the page.

• Helping students and families reset their Aspen passwords
  If parents or students need help resetting their Aspen passwords, please share the document  Resetting your student of family portal password in Aspen
• Want Aspen Help? 
  Online help is available in Aspen in the form of user guides, quick reference guides, and videos.  Click the Help button on the page that you are viewing and you will be given a variety of options for help. The first option will give you help specifically for the page that you are on.  More info: Finding Help in Aspen

• Want to print your rosters?  Check out the blog entry:
  Aspen - Printing your class roster

Aspen: Printing Blank Grading Sheets

Printed copies of your Aspen gradebooks are great for leaving in your sub folder, taking attendance when you don't have internet access, or when grading tests, projects, or homework.  So how do you print a blank copy your Aspen gradebook?  

1. Open Aspen and select the Gradebook tab (1).
   This will give you a list of all of your current classes.
   
2. Click the Reports tab (2).
   
3. Select Blank Grading Sheet (3)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. The Blank Grading Sheet pop up will appear. 
   
5. To print ALL of your gradebooks (except your study sections), click Run.
   
   
   
   
   
6. If you want to choose just one course, click the Sections to include drop down and choose Course number.  Then add the course number. 
   This will print all of your classes with that course number.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. If you want to print your study sections too, click the Include study sections box.
   
   
   
   
   
   

How to enter Quarter 4 and Final Grades in Aspen

Here is a reposting of the Quarter 4 and Final Grades in Aspen entry.

How to Enter Quarter 4 and Final Grades in Aspen

The steps to entering your Quarter 4 grades is similar to entering grades during any other quarter, but you have the additional step of also adding your Final Exam and Final Grade (FG) for the course.

To Post your Q4 grades in Aspen Gradebook,

1. Go to the Scores page in your Gradebook
2. In the Grade Columns drop down box, select Post Columns.  Also, set the Term to Q4.  
   (see yellow in image right)
3. The Aspen Posting columns will appear.  These are
• Q4Grd - Quarter 4 Grade
• Final Exam - Final Exam
• Q4ClsAbs - Quarter 4 Class Absences
• Q4Com1 and Q4Com2 - Quarter 4 Comment 1 and Comment 2 fields
• Q4 - The grade from your gradebook for quarter 4
• FG - Final Grade
  
  

4. Click the Update Post Columns button -OR-
   Select Options -> Update Post Columns
5. This will take you through the Update Post Columns wizard.  (see images below)

Step 1. Select the Grade Term (Q4) and the Grades to update (all students).
Step 2. Select Quarter 4 Grade = Average:Q4   Final Exam = (Do Not Update) Q4 Class Absence= Class Absence Total Final Grade = District Calculation
	Alternatively, you may add an assignment for the midterm grade and then automatically upload that grade by selecting it here.   Your exam will be part of a category and will be part of the Q4 average AND the Final grade.  Thus, being factored twice.
Step 3. Confirms the choices made in Step 1 and Step 2.

9. Click Finish.
10. You should notice that the Q4Grd and Q4ClsAbs fields will now be populated.
    ** Final Exam The field is blank.  You will add your Final exam grades into this column on the Post Columns - Term page.
    ** FG Please note: The grade is calculated using all assignments for the year (or semester for semester courses). It is not an average of the final grade for each semester divided by the number of semesters. Also note: The final exam grade will not be incorporated into this total until you add the final exam grade and click update.
    

    
11. After you have added your Final Exam(1), click the Update button(2) in the  FG column.   Aspen will calculate the Final grade for you. ** If the student(s) did not take a final exam, leave this field blank.  Aspen will ignore empty scores.
    
    

    
12. 
    Pass/Fail Grades.  If your class is Pass/Fail, complete the steps in Update Post Columns.  This will give you the total absences for the student for the quarter.  Then add the P or F into the Q4Grd column.  All of the grades will have a red circle with a line through it.  This just means that you manually entered the grade.
    
13. 
    Pass/Fail Final Grade.  Don't forget to also update the FG field for Pass/Fail Grades.  You must manually add the P or F to the FG column.
    
    
    
14.   Add comment codes (see WHS Comment Codes)

Verifying your Grades

10. Verify your grade in Q4Grd against the grade from your Gradebook which is labeled Q4.

11. If you would like to change the grade, simply click on the grade in the Q4Grd field and change it. Grades that you have modified will be indicated by a red, crossed-out circle.  

---

Applying the N-Rule (5 or more absences)

12. In Aspen, you will apply the N-Rule using the comment fields
• 100 N-Rule: May lose credit for course due to to attendance issues. Contact school administration.
• 101 N-Rule: Loss of credit, due to attendance issues, under consideration. Contact school administration

---

What does the pushpin mean?  

• If the pushpin is black ,
  you can enter grades for this column, but you cannot post them to transcripts yet.
• If the pushpin is green with a triangle ,
  you can enter and post grades for this column.
• If the pushpin is red with a square ,
  you already posted the information to transcripts. If you need to change a grade, you will be able to repost your grade for 5 days after the report cards are distributed.  After that, you will need to complete the grade change form (see Guidance department).

---

POSTING Grades

Once you have verified the grades, added comments, and applied the N-Rule if necessary, you can Post your grades. Posting your grades sends a copy of the grades in the field Q2Grd, S1Exam, and MidGrade (and comments) to the report card / student transcript.

13. Once the posting period has opened, the pushpin will turn from black to green.  The green signifies that you can post your grades.
14. To Post your grades, click the Post Grades button -OR- click Option -> Post Grades
15. The Post Grades pop-up will appear.
    Fill in
• Grade Term = Q4
• Grades to post = Term Grades for all Students.
16. Click Ok
17. Once your grades are posted, your push pin will change from green to red.
18. You must Post Grades for each class individually.

HELP! I’m getting an error when I post my grades

If you get the error “This section has already been posted.  Posting again will overwrite grades currently on the transcript.  Do you want to continue?”

Click YES.  The reason that you are getting this error is because you had seniors in the class and you already gave them grades and posted them.

As you continue, you should also receive the error “Withdrawn students with grades are present.  Would you like to include them in this post?”  

My answer is NO.  I have posted my grades for seniors already and do not want to make any changes.   

---

FAQs

There will be no printed verification sheets.  Instead, you can verify your grades on the Post Columns page of your gradebook (see steps 10 and 11).
• You may re-post your grades as many times as you please until the posting period ends.
• Want a printable copy of this verification page?  
• Select Reports -> Gradebook Sheet
• The Gradebook Sheet will appear.  
• Click Run.
• The printable version of your Post Columns page of your gradebook will pop-up
• Select Printer icon at the top of the Gradebook Sheet page.
  
• If you planning on using the same comment field for most of the students in your class, you can quickly add the comment to all students by using Options -> Fill Down Values.  Then just change those students who need different comments.