Re: Master Grade Software

Regarding the Master Grade Software that you previously reviewed:

The software, indeed, is creatively laid out and is relatively easy to learn via a do-it-yourself kind of method. After using the software to create grades for my students for the whole year, there are many pros about using this software and a couple of cons. Though the drawbacks are fairly minor when compared to all of the positives of the software, they may pose a more serious problem for physical education teachers in particular.

One major drawback of the software is that, although detailed student progress reports can be e-mailed to other classroom teachers very easily, these teachers, too, must be using the Master Grade software and be on a school network. The district or school would probably have to agree to use the software in all classrooms and set up a network for ease of use and distribution of grades amongst respective teachers. Additionally, physical education teachers have an easy way to keep track of daily attendance and participation or effort or whatever other areas on which they may grade their students. However, I was only able to configure one way to have the software take into account attendance and participation so that they affected overall grades and grades for quarters. To do this, they must be added on as separate 'assignments' for each quarter. Then, a scheme must be developed to deduct points given a particular student's attendance and participation record. In this case, physical educators may find the software somewhat frustrating.

The positives of the software are numerous. These include the ability to add any number of classes with any numbers of students. Detailed information for each student can be added, including multiple addresses, phone numbers, and pictures. Weights can be applied to assignments and scores for the quarters and scales can be individualized and tailored to meet the needs of any teacher. Overall, the software did everything I needed it to and would recommend it to any classroom teacher. A physical education teacher, on the other hand, may want to try out the 30-day trial and see if, indeed, the software meets his or her grading demands for an entire curriculum.