Gradebook2 allows instructors to calculate, store, and distribute grade information to students online. It provides a spreadsheet-style interface and a variety of useful  features.

As an instructor using Gradebook2, you may do all of the following

• Enter grades as points, percentages, or letter grades. Correlate letter grades to a 100-percent course grade scale.
• Enter, view, edit, and release item grades and comments, as well as course grades, to students.
• Create categories that organize items in the gradebook.
• Weight categories in the gradebook, as well as assign relative weights for items within categories.
• Drop lowest-score items in a category.
• Create extra credit items that don’t negatively impact course grades
• View a variety of statistics (including mean, median, mode, and class rank) as well as statistics charts.
• Import grades and comments for single or multiple items saved in .xls, .xlsx, or .csv format.
• Export grades and comments in .csv, .xls, or .xlsx format.
• Grant permission to selected Teaching Assistants to enter grades (Note: by default, TAs cannot enter grades in the gradebook spreadsheet.)

Typically, there are 3 general types of Gradebooks:

Non-weighted Gradebbok: A non-weighted gradebbok is a simple gradebook that allows instructors to post grades for a series of items. Item grades can be further calculated into a running "Course Grade", which is the calculated grade for all items that have been graded to date.

Do not use this type of gradebook if:

• You want to weight your graded items
• You want to organize your graded items by categories
• You want to dop lowest grade (or grades)

Non-weighted Categories Gradebook: A non-weighted Categories gradebook is a simple gradebook that allows instructors to post grades for a series of items, which are organized in the Gradebook by Categories.

Item grades can be further calculated into a running "Course Grade", which is the calculated grade for all items that have been graded to date.

The difference between a "non-weighted gradebook" and a "non-weighted Categories gradebook" is:

• Graded items are organized in instructor created categories.
• Instructors have the option to drop the lowest (or a number of the lowest) grades in a Category.

Weighted Categories Gradebook: A Weighted Categories gradebook allows the instructor to post grades to a series of items that are weighted by category or weighted within weighted categories.

Instructors have the option to:

• Apply different weights to different categories
• Apply equal weight to all items within a category
• Adjust the weight of each item within a category
• Use points rather than percentages to adjust the item weight

Item grades can be further calculated into a running "Course Grade", which is the calculated grade for all items that have been graded to date.