How to Export Grades

Go into the course.

1. select the Grades link on the course navigation bar
2. select the "Enter Grades" tab
3. select the "Export" button

The "Export Grades" area appears.

(Note: The screen-shot images in this area correspond to a "Points" grading system. A "Weighted" grading system or "Formula" grading system will feature slightly different selections being available or unavailable.)

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After choosing variables select the export button associated with the type of export to be conducted. There are advantages inherent to each type of export.

A dialog box will appear with the file name and a "Download" button. Select the "Download" button.

What the dialog box window looks like, how it behaves and so forth is dependent upon the browser being used.

It is dependent on Operating System, browser and local computer setup where the download ends up on the local computer. Instructors can direct or place the file into a folder on the local computer that has been designated to hold grades for the course offering. Files can be renamed during the "Save" or "Save As" process during download -or- after the fact.

A spreadsheet program can be used to open the file on the local machine.

To read the file name that is generated:

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When to export Grades from your Brightspace course offering

Instructors can protect themselves by exporting the Brightspace  Gradebook.

Suggested - export grades out of course offering(s):

• at the beginning of the semester
  • after grades area is initially established
  • after the last date for add/drop has passed
• anytime a major change is made in the gradebook
  • many new grades have been entered
  • changes to the layout have occurred
  • enrollment changes
• at the end of the semester
  • just prior to performing final calculations
  • after final grades have been released to students

Electronic media is volatile so instructors should protect themselves. If an instructor is working in the Grades area and performs an action that cannot be undone AND that action negatively affects all grading work up until that point it is handy to have a clean file to import in order to be able to start again. If something unpredictable occurs, a downloaded export of a course's grades area can help - simply import the clean version and the instructor is back in business.

About "Grades" file security:

Files containing grades that are exported to an instructor's local computer are sensitive. Note that the Brightspace "Username" is the key field and is (typically) rendered as the external ID (consisting of first.last name). Care should be taken when handling these files.

MSU-Bozeman support recommends that these files DO NOT stay on the local computer but are kept in a protected environment. One of the best ways to safely manage these files containing sensitive data is by using the Knox system that MSU-Bozeman UIT makes available to faculty.

Select this link to access information related to Knox

Note: When using the Exam Scoring Services of MSU-Bozeman, instructors retrieve score files from their established Knox folder. It is a two-way street - instructors can also use their Knox folder to store sensitive data such as exported grades documents by uploading them into their Knox folder.