Comparison of electronic gradebooks

Blackboard is a course management system that has a gradebook in it. It also has many other features, such as the ability to upload documents, send email, collect student assignments, and so on.

eGradebook is a tool with the primary purpose of posting grades. There is no ability to upload or exchange files, or send email.

Similarities

Approved by the University for posting grades
Students can only see their own grades
Grades can be calculated by software based on numerical ranges.
Can download scores to a spreadsheet and then import scores from a spreadsheet back to the online gradebook
Can import Scantron data

Differences

eGradebook Advantages	Blackboard
Able to drop X lowest grades	Unable to drop lowest scores
Can Save to and Submit to Registrar's Online Grade Submission	Can download grades to computer, then upload to Registrar's Online Grade Submission
Can determine grade ranges by points or percentages	Grade ranges determined by percentages
Ability to give three levels of feedback to students using Add Comments features	Feedback available with Assignment Manager

eGradebook	Blackboard Advantages
Not a Course Management System (CMS)	As a CMS, instructors and TA's can email students, create tests, collect papers and perform other functions.
No testing ability	Testing tool is integrated with the gradebook
Instructors cannot receive electronic assignments from students	Assignment Manager allows instructors to receive electronic assignments from students
Limited to eGradebook assignment types	Can create assignment categories
Can weight grades by category (assignment type)	Can weight grades by individual item or category
Can sort by date or type	Can sort by item order, date added, name, or type
Can only show current Total scores by deleting assignments (and reworking weighting scheme, if applicable)	Can exclude ungraded items from the Total and Weighted Total in order to show current Total scores

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