FWIW, Christopher, I don't need a feedback system in a gradebook. I don't actually use a gradebook, as I never have all that many assignments. In my upper division courses, just the single term paper. In my lower division, three essays. A gradebook is overkill, and comments of course go directly into the paper or essay (which come to me as attachments). Another example, I guess, of diversity of method among teachers and across disciplines.<div>
<br></div><div>I do, however, give "progress reports", which are really just feedback on how they are doing in discussion. I only do that twice, so again I don't need a gradebook, but if I were giving grades weekly, then perhaps there. At the very least, an easy way to quote would be helpful, or maybe links back to the post that I'm commenting on. This is just standard scholarly dialog stuff -- cite your sources. In this case, the sources are the students' posts.</div>
<div><br></div><div>I again agree with Joe. Grades without comments are not of much help to the student, they only benefit the administrator.</div><div><br></div><div><br clear="all"><br>Skip Knox<br>Boise State University<br>
<br>
<br><br></div>