To meet the needs of our faculty seeking an attendance solution within Blackboard, we developed several Grade Center templates for faculty to track attendance. Faculty have the option to import the template of their choice based on the number of class meeting per week into their Blackboard shell that is set with a grading schema to reflect days present, absent, tardy, or excused. By default, all points are set as 1 point per class, but it can be adjusted as needed. It includes a total column to display the total attendance percentage and can be used in a weighted total or total grade column. Currently, we have an option available for 1, 2, and 3 days a week. Alternatively, we also have an option of a 4-column shorter attendance template.

Attendance-Handout.docx

Option 1: 15-Week Attendance Template (option for 1, 2, 3 days per week)
Process: Download the appropriate zip file based on how many class sessions you teach per week and import it into your Blackboard class.
Summary: This template is set up for a 15 week semester, but the number of columns will vary depending on the number of days that you teach. Currently we have an option for 1, 2, or 3 days a week. You can add or delete columns as needed depending on your needs. You would need to import the proper template into each class that you teach. It allows you to keep track of attendance for single days of class based on a one point a day which can be modified. You can choose to use or not use the overall total attendance percentage column in your final grade calculations.
FEATURES
Grading Schema: You can adjust the grading schema to reflect your attendance grading system by adding more criteria. Currently, the schema is set to:
What to Enter in the Grade Center
P=Present 100% Present =1 point
E=Excused Absence between 90%-99% Excused= 0.9-0.99
T=Tardy between 50-90% Tardy=0.5-0.9
A=Absent 0%-50% Absent=0-0.5
Edit Column Information: You can edit the column information on each column to change the column name to the date of class (but not necessary if you want to reuse for minimal work next semester). You can also adjust the number of points possible. By default, we set the points possible for each column to 1. It displays a score as the primary display (so they students will see how many points they have for each class, but the instructor will also see the secondary display as P,E, T or A).
Delete Column: You can delete extra columns as needed, by clicking the chevron to the right of the title and select “delete column”.
Display of Total Attendance Grade: You can display a total attendance grade in percentage or score to students and use this column to include in your final grade calculations.
Exempt Status: You have the option to exempt a day of attendance for excused absences or if a student is added late to the class.
Smart View: A smart view called Attendance will be automatically included in the Grade Center. You can use the smart view to sort just the attendance columns in your gradebook (but the overall attendance will not be included in the smart view).
Advantages: The biggest advantage of using this Blackboard attendance template is having your attendance and grades all in one place on Blackboard. Students can directly see their points for attendance for each class and faculty can add quick comments for students to view in My Grades. Faculty can change titles of columns and points easily. Extra columns can be deleted easily. It is helpful to have a good understanding of the Grade Center. Once the template is in the course shell, you can roll it over to the following semester. The columns are contained in a Grading Period called Attendance.
Disadvantages: From semester to semester, the number of class meetings may change so some adjustments may be needed to fit the current course. This template may crowd your gradebook with many columns.
Option 2: 4 column Attendance Template
Process: Download the Attendance Version 2 zip file and import it into your Blackboard class. The zip file will be available on Bb Babblings.
Summary: If you don’t want to deal with the numerous extra columns in your grade center, you can download the 4-column attendance template into Blackboard. Each time a student is present for class, just increase the present column by one. If a student is excused, tardy, absent you can keep track by adding 1 point to the corresponding column. By the end of the semester, the present column will display the total points for attendance with a secondary display percentage. You can add quick comments as needed to keep track of the dates that a student was excused, tardy.