Creating and Managing Grade Center Smart Views

Smart Views allow instructors to filter the grade center views by establishing specific criteria.  For example, instructors can set up a smart view to see only tests in the course, or for managing multiple groups of students.

Accessing the Grade Center

Image of the Blackboard Control Panel open at the Grade Center heading with the following annotations: 1.Click on Grade Center.2.Select Full Grade Center.

Log into your Blackboard course and go the Control Panel:

  1. Click on Grade Center.
  2. Select Full Grade Center.

Accessing Smart Views, Part 1

Image of the Full Grade Center with the Manage button outlined with a red circle with an arrow pointing to the button with instructions to click on Manage. The Smart Views option in the menu is outlined with a red circle with an arrow pointing to it with instructions to Select Smart View.

In the Grade Center, click on Manage, and select Smart Views from the menu.

Accessing Smart Views, Part 2

Image of the Smart Views screen with the following annotations: 1.To create a new Smart View, click the Create Smart View button to create a custom smart view.2.To modify an existing Smart View, hover over and click the chevron next to the Smart View you wish to modify.3.To edit a Smart View, select Edit from the menu.4.To copy a Smart View, select Copy from the menu.5.To delete a Smart View, select Delete from the menu. Note: System-created Smart Views cannot be deleted.6.To designate a Smart View as a Favorite, click the star icon next to the Smart View. Smart Views marked as Favorites will appear under the Grade Center heading in the Control Panel.

You will now see a screen labeled Smart Views that lists all available Smart Views:

  1. To create a new Smart View, click the Create Smart View button to create a custom smart view.
  2. To modify an existing Smart View, hover over and click the chevron next to the Smart View you wish to modify.
  3. To edit a Smart View, select Edit from the menu.
  4. To copy a Smart View, select Copy from the menu.
  5. To delete a Smart View, select Delete from the menu. Note: System-created Smart Views cannot be deleted.
  6. To designate a Smart View as a Favorite, click the star icon next to the Smart View.  Smart Views marked as Favorites will appear under the Grade Center heading in the Control Panel.

Setting up the Smart View Information

Image of the Create Smart View screen with the following information: 1.Name: Enter a name for the Smart View here.2.Description: Enter a description for the Smart View here.3.Add As Favorite: Check this checkbox to list the Smart View in the Grade Center section of the Control Panel.

You will now see a screen labeled Create Smart View.  To create a Smart View, enter the following information in Smart View Information:

  1. Name: Enter a name for the Smart View here.
  2. Description: Enter a description for the Smart View here.
  3. Add As Favorite: Check this checkbox to list the Smart View in the Grade Center section of the Control Panel.

Users can create five types of Smart Views: Course Group, Performance, User, Category and Status, and Custom.

Creating a Course Group Smart View

Image of Selection Criteria with the following annotations: 1.Type of View: To create a smart view based on course group membership, Select Course Group here.2.Select Criteria: Use the selection tools to select the desired group to create a Smart View for.3.Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.4.When finished, click the Submit button to create a Group Smart View.

A Course Group Smart View allows instructors to create a Smart View for a single group.  You would need to repeat this process for each group.

  1. Type of View: To create a smart view based on course group membership, Select Course Group here.
  2. Select Criteria: Use the selection tools to select the desired group to create a Smart View for.
  3. Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.
  4. When finished, click the Submit button to create a Group Smart View.

Creating a Performance Smart View

Image of Selection Criteria with the following annotations: 1.Type of View: To create a smart view based on users' performance on a specific item, select Performance.2.Select Criteria: User Criteria: Select the grade column you wish to base user performance on.3.Condition: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired condition for displaying the smart view. The available options are Equal to, Greater than, Greater than or Equal to, Less than, Less than or Equal to, Between, and Status Equals.4.Value: Enter the desired value here.5.Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.6.When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.

A Performance Smart View allows instructors to see users who meet a specific performance criteria on a specific item, for example, instructors can set up a smart view to monitor students with a low total grade.

  1. Type of View: To create a smart view based on users' performance on a specific item, select Performance.
  2. Select Criteria: User Criteria: Select the grade column you wish to base user performance on.
  3. Condition: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired condition for displaying the smart view. The available options are Equal to, Greater than, Greater than or Equal to, Less than, Less than or Equal to, Between, and Status Equals.
  4. Value: Enter the desired value here.
  5. Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.
  6. When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.

Creating a User Smart View

Image of the Selection criteria section for a User smart view with the following annotations: 1.Type of View: To create a smart view based on selected users, Select User here.2.Select Criteria: Use the selection tools to select the desired users to create a Smart View for. (Hold down the Control key [Command key on Mac] to select multiple users)3.Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.4.When finished, click the Submit button to create a Group Smart View.

A User Smart View allows instructor to monitor specific users in the Grade Center.

  1. Type of View: To create a smart view based on selected users, Select User here.
  2. Select Criteria: Use the selection tools to select the desired users to create a Smart View for. (Hold down the Control key [Command key on Mac] to select multiple users)
  3. Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which grade columns to include in the Smart View. To show hidden information in the Smart View, check the checkbox labeled Include Hidden Information.
  4. When finished, click the Submit button to create a Group Smart View.

Creating a Category and Status Smart View

Image of Selection Criteria for Category and Status Smart Views with the following annotations: 1.Type of View: Select Category and Status from the list of available options to create a Category and Status Smart View2.Select Criteria: Categories: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired Category.3.Users: Use the dropdown menu to select All Users, Selected Groups, or Selected Users. If you choose the option to select users or groups, a list of users/groups will appear on screen.4.Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired status to monitor. The available statuses are All Statuses, Completed, Edited Manually, Exempt, In Progress, Needs Grading, Not Attempted.5.When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.

A Category and Status Smart View allows instructors to view specific grade categories and/or the status of items in the Grade Center.

  1. Type of View: Select Category and Status from the list of available options to create a Category and Status Smart View
  2. Select Criteria: Categories: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired Category.
  3. Users: Use the dropdown menu to select All Users, Selected Groups, or Selected Users.  If you choose the option to select users or groups, a list of users/groups will appear on screen.
  4. Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select the desired status to monitor.  The available statuses are All Statuses, Completed, Edited Manually, Exempt, In Progress, Needs Grading, Not Attempted.
  5. When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.

Creating a Custom Smart View

1.Type of View: Select Custom to create a Custom Smart View2.Select Criteria: Use the dropdown menu to select the first user criteria and assign the desired values.3.Click the Add User Criteria button to add additional criteria.4.Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which columns or categories to show in the Smart View.5.When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.

A Custom Smart View allows instructors to create a smart view with multiple user criteria.

  1. Type of View: Select Custom to create a Custom Smart View
  2. Select Criteria: Use the dropdown menu to select the first user criteria and assign the desired values.
  3. Click the Add User Criteria button to add additional criteria.
  4. Filter Results: Use the dropdown menu to select which columns or categories to show in the Smart View.
  5. When finished, click the Submit button to create the Smart View.