Pinnacle Quick Reference Card

Pinnacle Gradebook Teacher Quick Reference Card v1 080111

TEACHER GRADEBOOK SETUP

Pinnacle login MS/HS http://pinnacle.cobbk12.org/pinnacle ES http://ESpinnacle.cobbk12.org/pinnacle/gradebook Badge ID/network password

Pinnacle Support site: (CCSD Intranet Support) http://emppinnacle.cobbk12.org

I. Edit Profile Navigation: Options > Edit Profile

Add your CCSD e‐mail address and Save.

Note: Your Pinnacle password is the same password as your network password. Do not change your password within Pinnacle. To reset your password, contact the Customer Care Center.

II. Establish Grade Categories Note: Grade Categories are optional for classes without a required Final Exam or EOCT.

CATEGORY RULES……………………………………………………

1. The purpose of Categories is to group types of assignments and apply different weight factors based upon type (tests, homework, final exam, etc.) for grade calculations.

2. Categories MUST be used for courses with a State EOCT (end of course test). The category for this test must be named EOCT. Final exams that are NOT a State EOCT CANNOT have a category name of EOCT.

3. The sum of all category weights must total 100%.

4. Category and Assignment weights are multiplied

together in the grade calculation. Weight factors are to be applied to ONE of the two (categories OR assignments), NOT BOTH. If using category weights, the typical assignment weight is the value ‘1’ (one).

5. Possible exceptions to assignment weight values of ‘1’:

a) An assignment weight of ‘0’ (zero) ‐ does not calculate in the term grade.

b) An assignment weight of ‘2’ (two) ‐ calculated twice in the term grade.

CATEGORY SETUP………………………………………………… Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid

1. Within the Gradebook Grid, select the Class tab

(02‐Science) of your first instructional class.

2. Click the Options button from the Navigation

pane. The default tab is General.

3. Select the Categories tab.

4. Select Yes to categorize your assignments. 5. Select Yes to apply weighting by category. 6. Click New Category.

7. Enter a name and select a color for each

category (group of assignments), define weights and Save.

Note: Avoid assigning dark colors for easier viewing in the gradebook.

CATEGORY EXAMPLES……………………………………………

Categories without an EOCT

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Pinnacle Gradebook Teacher Quick Reference Card v1 080111 Categories with an EOCT

Note: Students with a 9th grade entry date of school year 2011‐12 will have 20% EOCT categories, all other students 15%. First time 9th graders will be tracked in separate EOCT classes in the gradebook.

EOCT for repeat 9th graders, 10th, 11th, 12th:

EOCT for first year 9th graders:

COPY CATEGORY FEATURE……………………………………

After establishing categories for one class, you may copy categories to multiple classes.

1. Within the class tab (02‐Science) with categories established, click the Options button and Categories tab.

2. Select the checkbox beside the categories you wish to copy (multiple or all) and select the Copy button.

3. Select the checkbox beside the class(es) to which to copy the categories and Save.

III. Drop Low/High Grades (Optional) Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid > Class > Options button > Categories tab

1. On the Categories tab, select the edit link beside the categories you wish to drop low or high grades.

2. Enter the number of assignment scores you wish

to drop (such as 1) under the appropriate option (Low or High) and save your changes.

IV. Create an Assignment Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid

1. Select a Class tab (across top of gradebook – 02‐Science) within the appropriate Term tab (across bottom of gradebook – Quarter 1).

2. Click New from Assignments column.

3. On the Assignment tab, complete the following: ‐ Description (Assignment Name) ‐ Use default Grading Scale ‐ Select appropriate Category (required if Categories are utilized) ‐ Date Assigned (click calendar icon) ‐ Date Due ‐ Max Value (point value, such as 100) ‐ Weight (typically 1, see Category Rules 4‐5)

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Caution: Extra Credit Checkbox (if present) – This selection creates an extra credit assignment that adds total points to the FINAL GRADE average for the course. Most extra credit scenarios would NOT involve the use of this checkbox. Alternative methods may be used to assign extra credit, such as including bonus points on an assignment or increasing an assignment weight factor to 2.

4. Optional: Click the Narrative tab to record

comments, description, resource links or suggestions.

5. Optional: Click the Classes tab and select

class(es) to which to copy the assignment. 6. Click Save.

TEACHER GRADEBOOK ROUTINE TASKS

V. Record Daily Attendance

Navigation: Quick Attendance

1. Select Quick Attendance link from home page or Attendance button from navigation pane within Gradebook Grid.

Home page

Gradebook Grid

2. Select a Class tab from top of page.

3. Verify date; use directional arrows or calendar

icon to select a date.

4. Locate student name in the roster and click an

absence or tardy code beside the student.

5. If no students are absent, click the All Present

button.

VI. Enter Scores or Letter Grades

There are two places to enter grades.

1‐Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid

1. Select a Class tab from top of page (within correct Term tab on bottom of page).

2. Locate the appropriate Assignment column.

3. Type Grade or Score in corresponding student

grade cell.

Hint: Press Enter to go to the next student grade cell or Tab to move to the next assignment.

To enter scores one assignment at a time:

2‐Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid > Quick Grades (from Navigation pane)

1. Select Quick Grades from navigation pane.

2. Select an Assignment from the selection box.

3. Select a Grade from the drop‐down cell, or type

a score in the column to the right of the Grade.

Hint: You may add Comments here that will display in the PIV (Pinnacle Internet Viewer).

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Note: An ‘X’ grade is exempt (not included in term grade calculation); a ‘Z’ grade is zero; a blank entry is exempt.

VII. Enter a Required Assessment

Types: Conduct Grade, ES Participation Grade, MS/HS Class Comment

Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid

1. Select a Class tab from top of page (within correct Term tab on bottom of page).

2. Click the Assignments drop‐down arrow and select Required Assessments from the list.

3. Select a student grade cell beneath the

appropriate column and press your keyboard space bar to view selections.

4. Select an entry from the choices. (Must press

space bar to see selections.)

Note: Some classes may require two Required Assessments:

ES: Participation and Conduct

MS/HS: Conduct and Class Comment

VIII. Enter a Note (Required for ES only – Quarterly Report Card Comments)

Notes represent Quarterly Report Card Comments for 4th and 5th grade report cards. Enter for appropriate quarter prior to report card processing.


1. Select the Homeroom Class tab from top of page.

2. Locate a student and click the corresponding Note icon from the student roster.

3. Click the Notes tab.

4. Click the New button, type a title and accept the

default current date.

5. Type your report card comments and save.

Note: Limit your text to fit in the report card comment box.

IX. Override a Term Grade

To override term grades for courses specified as Pass/Fail or Audit where no numeric/letter grade is given or if a numeric grade override is needed, use the override grade option.

Types: NC – no credit, P – pass, F – fail, or numeric grade override


1. Select a Class tab from top of page. 2. Click in the Final Grade cell for a student. The

Override Grade window is displayed.

3. Select the Override Code option (letter or

numeric grade). 4. Choose the appropriate code from the drop‐

down list and save.

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X. Finalize Grades for Report Card

After all of your grades have been entered and verified, you must finalize each class gradebook for capture on report cards.


1. Select a Class tab from top of page. 2. Click the drop‐down arrow above the Results

column (Term Grade) for the class.

3. Select Finalize Grades.

4. Select the appropriate Term and click Save. 5. Repeat for every class within the Term.

Notes: After finalizing grades for report card processing, do not make any additional grade changes until notification from your Gradebook Manager.

ES/MS: After the end of a quarterly grading period, keep the previous quarter classes marked as Finalized to ensure no grade changes are made by mistake after the end of the grading period. Your next marking period classes are located in the next Quarterly tab at the bottom of your gradebook.

6. To “un‐finalize” a gradebook, click the change link on the gradebook message.

7. De‐select the term checked and click Save.

TEACHER GRADEBOOK OTHER FEATURES

XI. Change Result Column Views

The gradebook results column displays the current calculated term grade. You can change this view to display category grade averages, etc.


1. Select a Class tab from top of page. 2. Click the drop‐down arrow beside the Results

column and select a different view. (Located in the far right column labeled with term.)

XII. View Assignment Score History

If you have changed a student’s assignment score, you may view the previous scores, dates and any comments entered.


1. Select a Class tab from top of page. 2. Place your cursor over the score on the

gradebook grid and Right Click to view score history.

3. If you wish to reassign a previous score, select a

score and save. If you wish to view only, click Cancel when complete.

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XIII. View and Print Reports

Navigation: Gradebook > Gradebook Grid > Reports button

1. Within the gradebook grid, select the Reports button from the top Navigation pane (or Reports link from home page).

Home page

Gradebook Grid

2. Click the New Report button. 3. Select a report category and click the + (plus

sign) to expand. 4. Click a report title. 5. Select appropriate parameters and create report

(select Run or Preview and Print).

Note: Click the star icon beside the reports you access on a regular basis to add to your Favorites report category.

XIV. Export Class Grades to Excel (Optional)


1. Select a Class tab from top of page. 2. Click the drop‐down arrow above the Results

column (Term Grade) and select Export Grades.

3. On the popup window, click the Save file

button. 4. Browse for the file save destination folder and

enter a name for the file including a .csv extension at the end of the file name. Use the default of Microsoft Excel Worksheet as the file type. Example: Science1A.csv

Note: The .csv extension must be added to the end of the file name for MS Excel to automatically format data into correct columns.

5. Click Save and repeat for each class.

TEACHER REPORT CARD CHECKLIST

Elementary only: Enter the quarterly report card comments in the Notes section on the student (use Homeroom class tab).

Enter assignments and scores/grades into each class gradebook and verify the term grade is displayed.

Enter all Required Assessments (conduct, participation, comments*) in each class gradebook. Note: Place your cursor within a Required Assessment cell and press SPACE bar to access selection list. *Class comments for MS/HS only.

Complete the following steps/verifications prior to your report card processing deadline each term.

Finalize Grades for report card capture.

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