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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I have looked at the conversion table. I am not sure how to interpret the gradebook comments on the conversion table regarding spreadsheets. I interpret that the spreadsheet operations would be replaced by bundling options within the new gradebook for category weights. This is good.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I agree with the comment that exporting of scores should still be supported for those that want to do grading with their own spreadsheet – though I would not want to do that myself. Students want to see how they are doing and it is easiest in the online environment to comply with FERPA. I like to save my scores after the course is over in the event that I need to write recommendations for students, and I do that with spreadsheets.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>In terms of lon-capa documentation, I am a newbie to lon-capa, and one of the barriers to the documentation was understanding the structure and the ‘big picture’. For example, in the grade book documentation, on pg 49, the discussion starts by assuming that the instructor is ready to start entering grades, and that the instructor has already created the upload forms. A short paragraph about the default structure of lon-capa (everything one point) and everything in one category would have been helpful. Also, as I understand the gradebook, lon-capa problems or a score upload forms for content must be included in the course content folders to have an item appear in the gradebook. (simple concept, but not documented that I could find). The terminology ‘score upload form’ unfortunately does not convey that it can be used for manual grading. A more general term like ‘score form’ would be more clear to newbies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>About the gradebook, the ability to drop the lowest x scores from a category is important to include.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Carl Lira<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Associate Professor<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2527 Engineering Building<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>428 S. Shaw Lane<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Michigan State University<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>East Lansing, MI 48824-1226<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Phone: (517) 355-9731<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>FAX: (517)432-1105<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.egr.msu.edu/~lira">www.egr.msu.edu/~lira</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.chethermo.net">chethermo.net</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>