One page grade reports (compact reports)

Following interest from our community, we have introduced a new design layout for the default assessment report available in MySchool. This new report format is condensed to a table format in landscape mode. It's a great way to represent numerical (summative) assessments to your students and guardians.

Let's look at the steps to create this;

Where is it?

The new report template is available in the assessment report builder. The format has been added to the overview layout drop down. 

We have added the configuration to Sections to allow some configuration of the parameters.

Please note that the design was intended for a single page layout, but has no restrictions. If the student has more than 9-10 subjects and further assessment sections are added (a rich text box to explain grading, a user comment signature, or attendance details then this will be pushed to a second page.

If you choose the compact course grades, you cannot add the normal course grade calculation method.

Step 1: Scales and Terms

As always make sure your terms are configured correctly for the reporting periods. Please consult the term management article to help understand this. 

If you already have set up assessments for the scholastic year using the portrait cover page view, you can still add is exam terms for your compact reports if you wish to transition. Discuss the issue with our support team before changing any of the established assessment periods and builds.

If you wish to use a grade scale and have this translated into an achievement scale then this needs to be created in assignment configuration. The calculated scale will use the Upper/Lower range to translate a numerical value into an achievement scale.

Step 2: Setting up assessments

In order to achieve the table format then subject specifications needs to be configured with the following key points;

• A separate assessment configuration per assessment term
• A numerical primary grade field
• Translating into an achievement scale is optional

In subject specifications, and to have multiple primary grades, then you will need to create an assessment configuration per term. This will allow you to select a primary assessment grade to be used in the report.

Step 3 : Restrict each individual assessment term to it's applicable term

In the applicable term field the assessment needs to be restricted only show in one term. In the below examples, we have chosen to show the calculated scale based on the numerical grade entry.

Each assessment type would need to be configured to only show in the applicable term as well. This is especially important if you wish to use Assignment averages. Click on the blue cog and limit the assessment type to the term.

If you wish the show the calculated scale and the original numerical scale, then this is now an option with the calculated scale assessment type.

Step 4: Choose your primary assessment type to be shown

The primary assessment field is used to pull a single grade into compact grade reports, transcripts, TRAX, and also to show as the overview in a students profile assessment tab.

There can only be one primary assessment type per assessment term set in subject specifications by ticking the check box next to the assessment type. For the compact grade report we suggest the following:

• Grade
• Assignment averages (numerical)
• Scale (restrictions occur if there is too much text)
• Attendance
• Stated term grades
• Formula
• Calculated scale
• Select (restrictions occur if there is too much text)

Step 4: Do you need an end of year summary and single calculation?

A common requirement from our community is to have a final end of year grade, that uses either assignment averages and/or grades from other assessments periods to produce a definitive final mark for the subject. This is possible for the compact grade report, and ow with stated terms you can pull grades already entered in previous assessment builds into the final end of year calculation. From here you can build a formula to calculate accordingly. 

The stated term grades will be shown on the assess grid, but will be greyed out. In this case a formula with override allows the educator to override the final calculation. 

Please note that if you wish to have additional values in the formula assessment (e.g Exc, N/A, Abs) then these cannot be translated into a calculated scale.

Step 5: Test your assessment builds

Before the final step, we strongly suggest you check the assess grid for your build. Make sure the fields selected are correct and your calculations are set up correctly for each term. 

• If you are using assignment averages, make sure you understand where the source average is coming from.
• If you are using stated term grades then check that these are configured to pull the correct source term information. 

Step 6: Create the compact assessment report

Now you can create the report set up using the assessment report builder. 

Choose the overview type as compact. Then choose the section type Compact grade report. You can add other types but these will cause the report to be spread over two pages. Static text can be used as usual to explain grade scales or calculations. User comment is still used to attach a signature in the same ways the default course grades layout. it will pull the comments from the overview tab of the review panel as well.

Note that you must choose course grades for the default overview layout (Portrait), and compact course grades (landscape). Using the wrong section will cause bad formatting of the report cards.

Open the compact course grade settings by clicking on the cog.

In the course label config you can have the following options:

• Subject label
• Course name
• Subject and course name
• Subject course name on separate lines
• Curriculum label
• Transcript label

Equally you can decide to show the numerical scales with a maximum out of score, and include or exclude the students withdrawn course grades.

We have also added the possibility to add a US GPA calculation which will appear at the bottom of the term average column. 

How is the US GPA calculated?

The US GPA can only be shown if you have selected a calculated scale as your primary assessment field. The calculation will total the number of equivalent points and divide them by the number of subject included in the report.

You can create an average using any point system you wish, the calculation method will remain the same. You do not need to set your subjects as being included in GPA. It will include all subjects with a valid grade.

Step 7: Test with preview

Make sure you test the output thoroughly. Add some assessments to a student and use preview on the assessment report builder or download from the review page. If you have students with more courses than others, test to see how these look. 

Top tip: Even for experienced community members, we always suggest creating a test subject/course/ and enrolling a test student into these courses. It is invaluable to avoid problems during an already busy assessment period.

FAQ for compact grade reports

Can we change to this format even though we have already created our assessments?

We will look into the possibilities with you but please organise a call well in advance for publishing as we may need to create new terms and obviously help you build your new per term specifications without affecting already published grade reports.

Can we have learning outcomes in a table format?

The table format is not adapted to learning outcomes, so you should continue to use the default layout.

Can we have a table and the default layout?

No, not on the same report, but by creating separate is exam assessment terms. You can have both reports showing different assessment metrics for the same period. However your Educators would need to complete both assessment grids separately. 

Can we still use the normal GPA assessment section?

Yes this will still work, just note that it will be created as a new section so will spill onto the second page.