New Semester Options
Gradebook Power creates, organizes, and uses data files for one semester at a
time. When a new semester is started, a new set of data files must be created.
Files for all semesters can be kept in the same folder and data diskette
because they have different filenames. If data is kept on a diskette, I strongly
recommend a different diskette be used for each semester. If someone spills coffee
accidentally on your data diskette, you will loose only one semester of student
data, not both. Considering the price of diskettes, this is cheap insurance
for your valuable time and data.
If the new semester student name and data files already exist, new blank files
will not be created that could destroy good data. If you are saving your data
on the hard drive and discover that your files are last year's students, use
the
Utility menu | Delete Class Files selection to remove the old data for the semester, then perform this
menu selection again.
When blank files are created for a new semester, the term number will
automatically advance to the first term of the next semester. You are also given the
opportunity to use a new formatted diskette so each semester's grades are on
separate diskettes. Choose one of the three ways to transfer student/school
information to the new semester. Select the appropriate radio button before clicking
the appropriate button.
The
Same Students - Second Semester selection is used if the teachers have the same students all year. Secondary teachers having a mixture of full year and semester courses should use this
selection to copy all classes to the new semester. Then the semester classes
should be deleted with the Utility menu | Delete Classes selection. Then add the
new semester classes and students. This way you can keep the complete first
semester student data and have complete new semester data. Using Options S1, S2, and
S3 on the Utility menu | Advanced Features selection allows reading and
resetting the class names for semester courses.
Student names, I.D.Codes, seating chart information, and first semester grade
calculations are for all classes are placed in memory first. You are given an
opportunity to replace the data diskette. After inserting a new diskette, and
clicking the OK button, the student information (names, I.D.'s, and seating
chart) and empty class files for recording new assignments are created.
The
All New Students - Second Semester selection is used by teachers having a different set of courses second
semester. This selection allows saving of school year calendar information, school
letter grades, etc. to a new diskette, and resets your class count to zero
classes.
If you keep the same students all school year, but there are massive schedule
changes at semester to accommodate semester elective courses or team
scheduling, the
Same Students - Different Classes selection would be most useful and timesaving.
Click the radio button, then the Read Data into Memory button. Student names,
I.D.Codes, seating chart information, first semester grade calculations, and
class number are placed in memory. Students from all classes are alphabetized in
the grid on the right. Enter the student's new class numbers in the grid as
needed. When the new class numbers have been entered for all students, click the
Save button. You are given an opportunity to replace the data diskette. After
inserting a new diskette, and clicking the OK button, the student information
(names, I.D.'s, and seating chart) and empty class files for the second semester
are created.
Screen Shot
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