Using Export and Import to Enter Grades

Larger class sizes can make it very difficult to enter grades with the new format. In fact, it's ridonculous. So here are some instructions that will make your life easier, allowing you to use Excel or OpenOffice to enter your grades and upload them to ACORN.

 

Exporting Your Spreadsheet

  1. Log into ACORN and enter your course.
  2. Check to see if the menu on the left of your course page is visible. If not, click on the "hamburger" icon near the top left of your course page first (view image).
  3. Click on Grades.
  4. Use one of the following methods, depending on your preference:
    • From the Drop-down list that says Grader report select either Excel spreadsheet or OpenDocument spreadsheet under Export.
    • From the menu items listed below Grader report click on the Export link. Then either click on the Excel spreadsheet link or use the already selected OpenDocument spreadsheet option.
  5. Leave the default options as they are under the Options section.
  6. Under Grade items to be included de-select any activities that you won't be marking. (You will generally only select one item here, the item which you wish to mark.) If you have a large number of items to de-select it may be easier to scroll to the bottom of the page, click on the Select all/none link and then select only what you need.
  7. Click on the Submit button at the bottom of the page.
  8. If your preview looks fine, click on the Download button.
  9. Save the file to a location you will remember.

Entering Your Students' Grades

  1. Open your saved file in either Excel or OpenOffice, depending on which option you used in the previous steps.
  2. Enter the appropriate grades in the appropriate column(s).
  3. Click on File/Save as..., browse to where your file will be saved, from the Save as type: drop-down list select CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv) in Excel or Text CSV (.csv) (*.csv) in OpenOffice, rename the file if you wish, and click on the Save button.
  4. You will see some messages now because the format you have saved in is not the default:
    • Excel - click Yes to keep the CSV format. Close the file and click the Don't Save button since you don't need the file in the default Excel format.
    • OpenOffice - click Keep Current Format to keep the CSV format. In the Export Text File window, set the Character set to Unicode (UTF-8) and click the OK button. Close the file.

Importing Marked Grades from a Spreadsheet

  1. Log into ACORN and enter your course.
  2. Under the menu on the left , click on Grades.
  3. Use one of the following methods, depending on your preference:
    • From the Drop-down list that says Grader report select CSV file under Import.
    • From the menu items listed below Grader report click on the Import link.
  4. Either drag and drop your marked file or use the old-fashioned Choose a file... method of selecting your file.
  5. Leave all options as they are and click on the Upload grades button.
  6. Assuming your preview looks hunky dory, you must now map some things in order for your file to be properly imported:
    • Map from -> ID Number -> Map to -> ID Number
    • Under the Grade item mappings' you need to map your activities. All other mappings can be ignored (i.e. First name to Email address). The item on the left should match the item on the right, since the names came from ACORN. If you are uploading a new grade item, select New grade item on the right.
      • e.g. Assignment: Assignment 1 -> Assignment: Assignment 1 or Quiz: Quiz 1 -> Quiz: Quiz 1.
  7. Once your mapping is done click on the Upload grades button.
  8. When you see the Grade import success message click on the Continue button.
  9. You should now be back in the Grader report and you should see the students' grades highlighted in some sort of orangy/corally/yellowy colour, depending on your display and definition of these colours. This indicates that you have manually entered the grades.