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Quick Start Guide


1.	If possible, ensure that video resolution is set to 800 x 600 as follows:

	a.	Right click anywhere on desktop

	b.	Select "Properties."

	c.	Select the "Settings" Tab

	d. Move the "Screen Area" sliding bar to 800 x 600



2.	If using another resolution:


	a. Open the grade book.

	b. Select "View" from the menu bar.

	c. Select "Zoom" from the dropdown menu box.

	d. Set the zoom until the screen contents are acceptable.



3.	Copy the original template file to a unique name for each class as follows:

	a.	Open the original grade book template file.

	b.	Click "File" in the menu bar.

	c.	Select "Save As."

	d.	Save the file to a directory named for the semester, and name the file unique to the class being taught, such as "CIS-271-1.xls."

		Warning:  Failure to do this step will result in overwriting the original template, and may make it unusable for other new classes.


4.	Create Multiple Grade Books for a Semester:

	a.	Make directory (folder) for the semester.

	b.	Copy the original grade book template to that directory.

	c.	Enter all date information into the file you just copied.

	d.	Perform a "Save as" to create the number of different grade books you need for all of your classes for the semester.

	e.	Use the steps below to enter class names and numbers, student names and ID's from your class lists, and other information unique to each individual class.


5.	Enter Class Information on Class Roster Page:

	a.	Name of Class				Example:  "Intro to Networking"

	b.	Class Number				Example:  "CIS-171-3

	c.	Dates or Semester			Example:  "Fall 2001"

	d.	Credits					Number of course credits earned

	e. Student information

	f. Class locations and times

	g. Grading Scale				(Links to other pages)


6.	Enter Assessment Category Labels on Main Page (Tests, Labs, Homework)

	a.	Accept Default Labels		OR

	b.	Customize section labels to reflect your individual assessment categories:


		Examples:

			"Tests and Exams"
			"Psychology Field Report"
			"Lab Journal"


7.	Assign Grading Weights to Assessment Categories:

	a.	Enter decimal value (20% = .2) under "Wght" on top row of each section on main page.

		Note:  If you are not using all of the sections on the main page for assessments, simply enter "0" under "Wght" for the section(s) not used.


8.	Attendance Work Sheet:

	a.	Fill in calendar dates on top row, under appropriate day labels.

		Note:  The default values to enter when taking attendance is "1" for an absence, "0" for presence.  This will properly update other tables to help show statistics on student absences.


9.	Daily Grades Work Sheet:

	a.	Fill in calendar dates on top row, under appropriate day labels.

	b.	Decide on Daily Points to be awarded for each class session, and put that value in the row labeled "Possible Participation & Daily Grade Points" as each class meeting is held.


		Note:  Some teachers prefer to update this assessment category daily.  Some prefer to use a rubric or scoring work sheet to assign these points periodically throughout the semester.

	If you prefer to give a periodic participation grade, rather than a daily score, leave this work sheet blank, and enter periodic values on the Main Page Tab, under "Participation and Daily Grades," as "Other Assigned Daily Points."


10.	Absences Work Sheet:

	a.	Decide whether or not you will be deducting points from the final grade for excessive absences.

	b.	Fill in "Absences Allowed (Without Penalty)."

	c.	Fill in "Deduction Points/Excessive Absence."  If you will not be deducting points from the final grade for excessive absences, enter "0" in this block.

		Note:  This page is for statistical data gathering only.  All values will be filled in from data entered in on other sheets.  If you make changes to this page manually, the formulas will be overwritten, and will cause difficulty if you decide to use this data later.


11.	Extra Credit Work Sheet:

	a.	There is nothing to be filled in during initial class setup.  Fill in the appropriate data as needed as the semester progresses.


12.	Seating Chart Work Sheet:

	a.	Fill in this chart with student names when class begins.

	b.	Optionally, use this section to record student lab station or other information about student seating assignments.


13.	Lesson Planner Work Sheet:

	a.	Fill in day to day lesson plan for lecture sessions in the spaces provided in the left column.

	b.	Fill in day to day lesson plans for lab sessions in the spaces provided in the right column.

		Helpful Hint:  Many classes do not meet on every single day of the week.  There are events such as Student Organization Meetings or Student Advising Days that may not necessarily have an effect this particular class. However, I have found it useful to enter these events in the Lesson Planner work sheet anyway, as it helps when you want to announce these events to the class, and to help you remember how they may effect your other classes.


14.	Assignments Work Sheet:

	a.	Fill in assignment due dates and other notes as the semester progresses.

		Helpful Hint:  You may find it helpful to print this page out periodically, and post it in the front of the class, or use it as a student handout.


15.	Student Grade Book Template (Optional):

	a.	Give the students a copy of the student version of the grade book template.

	b.	Explain the points and weights that are given to each assessment category, and help them update their version to reflect these values.

	c.	Demonstrate the proper use of the template, and emphasize the following:

		(1)	Entering test scores as they are received

		(2)	Entering homework scores as they are received

		(3)	Keeping track of their own absences, and entering them as they occur.
		
		(4)	The ability to do "What-If" calculations with their grade book.

		(5)	Using the "Assignments" tab to keep track of due dates.


16.	Creating Printed Reports:

	a.	Highlight all cells that you wish to print.

	b.	In the "File" menu, click "Print Area" - "Set Print Area."

	c.	Click "Print Preview" to verify that page settings and margins are set correctly.

	d.	Adjust page breaks as needed to ensure that pages print out the way you want them:

		(1)	Click "Print Preview"

		(2)	Click "Page Break Preview"

		(3)	Drag page break lines to the location that you desire them to be in.

	e.	Perform the same procedures for each tab that you want to print.


	To Create Confidential (No Name) Grade Reports for Posting in the Classroom:

	f.	Save the grade book before proceeding with these steps!

	g.	Go to the "Main Page," first section from the top (This is the Tests, Exams, Quizzes section in the original template file).

	h.	Highlight and delete all of the student names, leave the student ID numbers.
	
		Warning:  Highlight and delete names from the first section on the Main Page ONLY!  If you delete names from any other section, you will overwrite the automatic update feature in these fields.

	i.	Perform steps "a" through "d" above to print out the grade reports.

	j.	After report has printed, press CTRL-Z to restore student names to grade book.


17.	To Print Individual Grade Reports:

	a. Click on the first numbered tab that you wish to print.

	b. Hold down the SHIFT key, and click on the last numbered tab that you wish to print.

	c. Set up the print area and page breaks as mentioned above.

	d. Click on "Print" to print out a complete set of grade sheets for your class.


		Note:  Some printers have difficulties printing large numbers of these reports all at once.  To solve this, only select five pages at a time when printing them out.