[ARCHIVED] Automatically/Manually vs. Hide/Show

[cliff_cunningha]

Can you clarify a point of confusion:

In my testing, I have done this:

1)  Set an assignment Grade Posting Policy to "Manually".

2)  Entered/edited grades.

3)  Hit "Post Grades".

So far, so good. Everything behaves as it should. The grades were hidden, during enter/edit. Then, the grades became visible to the students once I posted.

Cool.

However... at this moment, the word "Manually" still appears in the header. But, when I enter new grades, or edit existing grades again... those changes are now automatically posted.

Am I seeing that right? Even though I have chose "Manually", that does not (at this point) mean that I truly have "manual" control over the visibility of my grade. Yes, the assignment is set to "Manually"... but, since my most recent action was to "Post Grades"... that opens the spigot (as it were). (Right?) At this moment, it seems all of my new and edited grades are automatically posting for students to see.

Is that right?

If so... that is a MAJOR conceptual breakthrough for me. I misunderstood how far-reaching the term "manually" was extending. Maybe, I am not the only one hung up on this element.

Thx for any clarification.

Cliff

[vanzandt]

Thanks for your post. I agree that it should either continue as a Manual operation for additional grading, or the header tag should flip to automatic after "post grades" is selected, if this is the intended behavior. 

[gncrum]

More specificially, if you select Post Grades -->Graded, the then the Manually Post policy is still in effect. That is, after this point, if you enter a grade for anyone you did not previously grade, those scores will be hidden.

https://www.screencast.com/t/FrreJnsfZqn6

However if you select Post Grades -->Everyone then ALL grades you enter from now on will be visible (opens the spigot).  

I think in this case, the policy should be updated to Automatic (Instead of staying on Manual), because, like you said, all new and edited grades are automatically posting for students to see.

At least that is how I understand the functionality.

Greg

[erinhmcmillan · Accepted solution]

Hi, Todd and Greg,

The functionality is as it stands at the moment. However, probably after the new year (I'm not sure when the tickets will be completed), we'll simplify the workflow to exactly what you've mentioned—when all grades are posted, the policy will be changed to automatic.

Watch the release notes for information on these changes coming soon. This change was originally mentioned as item three in Jon's post https://community.canvaslms.com/community/ideas/blog/2019/08/28/post-policy-updates-feedback 

Thanks,

Erin

[lshulman]

I too have been confused by the difference between manual/automatic and hide/show. Also, how the manual/automatic functions. If my gradebook default is automatic but I only want a few assignments done as manual (so I can grade piecemeal as new parts get submitted, e.g. for an on-going discussion where initial posts are graded first and then replies are graded at a later date), how do I then release all the grades once the grading is done? I would think I change the assignment setting to "automatic" but I end up see the eyeball icon by some student totals (suggesting that their grade for the assignment is still hidden) and other students do not have this eyeball icon. Perhaps the function gets messed up if I entered some grades before making the assignment "manual"? In which case, how do I fix it? The "automatic" policy says "Grades that have already been hidden will remain hidden." Why should any grades be "hidden" if I change the setting from "manual" to "automatic"? 

Would it just be easier to use the "hide grades" and "post grades" feature instead of "manual" and "automatic"?

The "manual" policy states "Choose when to post grades for this assignment in the gradebook." But HOW do I choose this (how do I post them)?

I was playing around with these features and did manage to get rid of all the eyeball icons. I used the "hide" and then "post" commands for a selected assignment. "Hide" put an eyeball on all the students. Then "post" removed that eyeball on all the students.

I guess my basic question is: under what conditions would I want to use "manual/automatic" vs. "hide/post"?