Inside This Issue:

• Tips For Getting Started With MicroGrade

• Start The Year Off By Using Email To Contact Students

• Do You Have The Latest Version?

• Try The Latest Version of MicroGrade Free For 30 Days

• Try WebGrade Free For 30 Days

• MicroTest Pro: Coming Soon!

Tips For Getting Started With MicroGrade

It's time for our annual refresher to help you start your school year with MicroGrade. Listed below are some of the best ways to set up your class files at the beginning of a new term. Use this information to help you generate your class files quickly and painlessly. Choose one or a combination of the following options to save time:

• Quick Start: For teachers who need to get set up quickly, great for novice users
• Save As: For teachers who teach multiple classes of the same subject
• Import Students: For teachers who can get student data electronically from the school administrative system---this is the way to go if you want to avoid endless hours of typing!

Quick Start
MicroGrade (version 5.0.3 and higher) includes a Quick Start feature to help you set up your class files at the beginning of each school term. Use this step-by-step process to name your files, set preferences and grading standards and add categories and assignments. If you don’t plan to import student information, you can also use Quick Start to add student records. Detailed instructions for using Quick Start are provided below.

TO BEGIN:
Launch MicroGrade and click the New Class button. Click the Quick Start button when the Welcome to MicroGrade dialog appears. (You can also access Quick Start from the Help menu.)

STEP 1:
Click inside the Class Name text box and enter the class name for your MicroGrade file. If your class has multiple grading periods, enter a title for the first grading period in the Grading Period Name text box. (Example: First 9 Weeks) Click Next .

STEP 2:
To set class preferences, click on the radio buttons to select a grading method and display format for student names. Click Next.

STEP 3:
Click on the Set Grade Standards button to review the default grade standards. Make any desired changes and click OK to continue.

STEP 4:
To add categories, click on the Add Categories radio button. Type the name of the category in the Category Title: text box and an abbreviation in the Abbrev: text box. Click on the Enter button.

To add an assignment within a category:

1. Select a category from the list in the upper left corner of the window by clicking on it.
2. Click on the Add Assignments radio button.
3. Enter the assignment information in the appropriate fields. Click the Enter button.

Once you have entered your categories and assignments, click the OK button.

STEP 5:
Click on the Add Student Records button to begin entering student information. MicroGrade automatically generates student ID's and WebGrade Passwords. To change the information, click inside the WebGrade Password: textbox and type the desired information. After you have entered your student information, click the Finished button.

TO FINISH QUICK START:
The final Quick Start screen will display a sample MicroGrade class. Review this window to familiarize yourself with MicroGrade's user interface. Click the Finished button to begin working with your new class.

NOTE: If you want to modify any of the settings or information you entered, you can make changes at any time, even after you are finished with Quick Start.

Save As
Use MicroGrade's Save As feature to create a template of your class file. You can duplicate the entire class, save only the student information or eliminate just the student records.

1. Start a new class file and set up the information that will be the same for all your classes (preferences, categories, assignments, etc.)
2. From the File menu, choose Save As. The Save As Options dialog displays.
3. To create a template file or backup copy, use the drop-down menus and checkboxes listed in the dialog, or click on one of the special option buttons described below:
   • Option 1: Saves entire active class file (makes a backup copy).
   • Option 2: Copies student records from your active class but omits categories, assignments, scores and grading information.
   • Option 3: Saves course information from your active class file but omits student records and scores. (This option is ideal for teachers who teach multiple classes of the same subject.)
4. After selections have been made, click Save. Enter a new file name and click OK.

Import Students
If you can obtain an electronic version of the students enrolled in your classes, use MicroGrade's Import Students feature instead of entering your student records tediously by hand. Click on the link below to access a PDF file that will assist you with the process of importing students to your MicroGrade class files. (Import instructions begin at the bottom of page 8 of this PDF file.)

http://www.chariot.com/micrograde/pdf/sitetechchampions.pdf

Start The Year Off By Using Email To Contact Students

Why not start the year off by sending a note to your students welcoming them to another school year? MicroGrade's built-in email function can make this quick and easy.

To send email from MicroGrade:

1. Open your class in MicroGrade
2. Go to the Students menu and click on "Send Email"
3. The "Send Email" dialog will appear. Your students will be listed on the left-hand side of the dialog. Click on the name of the student you want to email.
4. Fill in the "Subject" box and type a message, then click "Send Email". MicroGrade will automatically send your email to the student you selected.

Do You Have The Latest Version?

MicroGrade 6.1.2 is now available! Click here to learn more about upgrading.

Try The Latest Version of MicroGrade Free For 30 Days

If you are using an older version of MicroGrade and you are not sure if you want to upgrade, you can visit our web site and download the latest version free of charge. Access the free 30-day trial for MicroGrade 6.1.2 at: http://www.chariot.com/micrograde/mg-demos.asp

Click here to review a version history of MicroGrade.

Try WebGrade Free For 30 Days

If you're an existing user of MicroGrade, you can try WebGrade free of charge for 30 days. Click here to sign up for your free trial.

MicroTest Pro: Coming Soon!

MicroTest Pro is a powerful middleware utility program that simplifies the problems encountered when managing test items. Designed for use by assessment and training directors at school districts, colleges and businesses, MicroTest Pro lets users import, store and export test items from/to virtually any format.