Blackboard scrambles the order of assignments
September 15, 2008 11:06 AM Subscribe
Blackboard course management software is scrambling the order of students assignments--how do I fix this?
An instructor under my supervision has set up assignments in Blackboard which allow students to submit files for grading. This is normally a great tool, and I pushed him to use it.
All looks well, but when the students submit a file under the "assignment 1" submit link, it appears under assignment 8 in the gradebook. Assignment two submissions appear in the gradebook under assignment 5.
I can't see anything wrong with the way the assignment has been created. It has no mention of the incorrect assignment number in any of the create or modify screens. However, if you click on the student's grade or the red exclamation point in the gradesheet--then it shows the switched information. Anyone have any ideas? I'd just reorder the gradesheet, but until students submit, I can't see what is going to appear where.
An instructor under my supervision has set up assignments in Blackboard which allow students to submit files for grading. This is normally a great tool, and I pushed him to use it.
All looks well, but when the students submit a file under the "assignment 1" submit link, it appears under assignment 8 in the gradebook. Assignment two submissions appear in the gradebook under assignment 5.
I can't see anything wrong with the way the assignment has been created. It has no mention of the incorrect assignment number in any of the create or modify screens. However, if you click on the student's grade or the red exclamation point in the gradesheet--then it shows the switched information. Anyone have any ideas? I'd just reorder the gradesheet, but until students submit, I can't see what is going to appear where.
Which version? 8? Do you have administrative access? On the System Admin control panel, there's a very specific version number, e.g. 7.3.216.0. The new (web 2.0-ish) gradebook was introduced in 8.0, so it will make a big difference.
Your system admin should be able to file a ticket with Blackboard to zero in on this issue. Also, they have a knowledge base that's pretty extensive at http://behind.blackboard.com/ but you need an account to search it.
The fastest option is going to be to ask on one of the lists out of ASU, probably blkbrd-l, bbadmin-l is for the more backend kinds of people. Search the archives there too.
I don't recall seeing this issue there. Cross-reference the location of the deployed assignment with the gradebook. Make sure the instructor hasn't fouled up somehow. Also, was it a copied or restored course? Was a cartridge involved (ugh)?
On the browser issue, BB is certified for IE7 and Firefox 2, and is fine with Firefox 3 (assuming you/your admin has patched BB with the fix for the problems there).
Last but not least, file names and assignment names can really trip you up. Keep them boring and avoid the top row of your keyboard, e.g. # or - in both.
posted by idb at 12:23 PM on September 15, 2008
Your system admin should be able to file a ticket with Blackboard to zero in on this issue. Also, they have a knowledge base that's pretty extensive at http://behind.blackboard.com/ but you need an account to search it.
The fastest option is going to be to ask on one of the lists out of ASU, probably blkbrd-l, bbadmin-l is for the more backend kinds of people. Search the archives there too.
I don't recall seeing this issue there. Cross-reference the location of the deployed assignment with the gradebook. Make sure the instructor hasn't fouled up somehow. Also, was it a copied or restored course? Was a cartridge involved (ugh)?
On the browser issue, BB is certified for IE7 and Firefox 2, and is fine with Firefox 3 (assuming you/your admin has patched BB with the fix for the problems there).
Last but not least, file names and assignment names can really trip you up. Keep them boring and avoid the top row of your keyboard, e.g. # or - in both.
posted by idb at 12:23 PM on September 15, 2008
More information would be helpful... there are a lot of different versions of Blackboard's software, including the CE versions that were formerly known as WebCT.
Assuming that you're running CE6 or CE8, are you sure that the correct grade book entries are linked to the correct assignments? You could easily duplicate this behavior by editing the assignment in the build tab, scrolling down the the Grading section and putting in the wrong assignment number there. You basically have an alphanumeric field, "Grade Book column title:", that you can type any assignment name and number into. If they accidentally put "assign5" into that field in Assignment 2, then in the gradebook (and to the students) it would appear as if the grade was coming from Assignment 5.
Make sure the right info appears in the "Grade Book column title:" field.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 12:37 PM on September 15, 2008
Assuming that you're running CE6 or CE8, are you sure that the correct grade book entries are linked to the correct assignments? You could easily duplicate this behavior by editing the assignment in the build tab, scrolling down the the Grading section and putting in the wrong assignment number there. You basically have an alphanumeric field, "Grade Book column title:", that you can type any assignment name and number into. If they accidentally put "assign5" into that field in Assignment 2, then in the gradebook (and to the students) it would appear as if the grade was coming from Assignment 5.
Make sure the right info appears in the "Grade Book column title:" field.
posted by Jupiter Jones at 12:37 PM on September 15, 2008
Response by poster: The version of Bb is 7.3. The course content was loaded from a development site into a regular course. Assignment names are fairly straightforward "Assign 1" for example. The submitted files from students come through just fine except that when they submit from within assignment 1, it appears under a different spot in the gradebook. I'm not the system admin, I'm the head of the independent learning area, so I am listed on every class in this program as an instructor.
I don't know exactly what browsers are in use. I have looked at the site in Firefox 3 and IE 7, but what students are using is difficult to say, as they are scattered around the country.
I've slogged through many many pages of blackboard.com's discussion groups without success.
Sounds like I had better call in the system administrators. Thank you for your input. I was hoping that it was some simple issue, as this instructor is brand new to my program, and I don't want to lose him due to frustration.
posted by midwestguy at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2008
I don't know exactly what browsers are in use. I have looked at the site in Firefox 3 and IE 7, but what students are using is difficult to say, as they are scattered around the country.
I've slogged through many many pages of blackboard.com's discussion groups without success.
Sounds like I had better call in the system administrators. Thank you for your input. I was hoping that it was some simple issue, as this instructor is brand new to my program, and I don't want to lose him due to frustration.
posted by midwestguy at 12:41 PM on September 15, 2008
The discussion groups on Blackboard.com are not much good. The real quality resource is the ASU list, but perhaps more for the admin types.
posted by idb at 12:59 PM on September 15, 2008
posted by idb at 12:59 PM on September 15, 2008
Response by poster: Just a quick update, the tech folks have decided that the database underlying this course has become corrupt, and they have submitted it to Blackboard's in house tech people to evaluate.
posted by midwestguy at 1:02 PM on September 17, 2008
posted by midwestguy at 1:02 PM on September 17, 2008
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Blackboard actually displays assignments in a different order... depending on which browser they are being viewed in.
Madness.
posted by answergrape at 11:56 AM on September 15, 2008