Use this 5-step checklist to review and maintain your Quercus course during the term. These tasks will help you keep your Gradebook and assessments up to date, and prepare your course for the remainder of the term.
Keeping an up-to-date class list gives you a current record of enrolled students and their contact information outside of Quercus.
- Download a current list of students enrolled in your course, including their email addresses. Follow the steps in our guide: How do I get student email addresses from Quercus? to export a class list that includes student email addresses.
- Update your class list periodically to account for enrollment changes during the term.
A mid-course Gradebook check can help you keep your grading up-to-date.
- Check that grades have been entered for completed assessments. Look for dashes (“–”) in the Gradebook, which indicate that no grade has been entered. Where appropriate, enter a zero for missing work; otherwise, ungraded assignments are not included in the student's grade total.
- Ensure that any grades and feedback you intend students to see have been posted. Post grades and feedback for completed assessments when you are ready for students to view them. You can also schedule the release of assignment comments and grades separately.
- Export your Gradebook after each assessment has been graded. Keeping an up-to-date copy of your Gradebook provides a record of grades throughout the term. Follow the steps in the guide: How do I export grades in the Gradebook? to download your Gradebook.
If a student leaves the course, their grades will no longer be available in Quercus. Regularly downloading the Gradebook helps ensure you retain access to them.
Reviewing your upcoming Assignments, Quizzes, Crowdmark assessments, and other graded activities can help you identify availability or configuration issues before they affect students.
- Verify key details, including due dates, availability dates, point values, submission types, and other relevant settings (e.g., section-specific due dates, individual accommodations).
- For group assignments, confirm that the correct Group Set is selected.
- Check that upcoming assessments are published and available to students when intended.
Using Crowdmark assessments?
Be sure to resync your student roster before each Crowdmark assessment so that any recent enrollment changes are reflected in Crowdmark.
If you make changes to grades in Crowdmark after exporting them to Quercus, sync the grades again to ensure that the Quercus Gradebook reflects the updated scores.
Reviewing your course content for the rest of the term can help ensure that students can access the materials and activities they need when they need them.
- Check that links and embedded resources still work, particularly links to external websites, readings, videos, and other third-party resources.
- Check publishing and availability settings on Modules, Pages, and Files to make sure students will be able to access upcoming content when intended.
- Use Student View to preview upcoming course content from a student's perspective.
Mid-course feedback gives students an opportunity to share their experience while there is still time to consider and respond to their feedback during the term.
- Identify a few areas where student feedback would be useful. Keep your questions focused on aspects of the course where feedback could inform adjustments during the remainder of the term.
- Use an appropriate tool to collect feedback. If you want responses to be anonymous, use a tool that supports anonymous responses, such as Microsoft Forms.
- Review and respond to the feedback. Consider what adjustments are feasible and let students know what you heard and whether you plan to make any changes.
- Refer to the CTSI resource Gathering Formative Feedback with Mid-Course Evaluations for additional guidance on gathering and responding to mid-course feedback.
Keep student information secure: Downloaded Gradebooks and student class lists contain personal student information and should be handled and stored appropriately.
For guidance on managing University records and personal information, refer to the following U of T resources. Check with your departmental administration for any additional requirements or guidelines that may apply.
- University of Toronto Archives & Records Management Services (UTARMS)
- Records Management Resources for U of T Staff, Faculty, and Librarians
- Student and learner systems access and interaction data and records (on SharePoint, U of T login required)
- University Privacy Office
- Division of the Vice-President & Provost
If you have additional questions about mid-term tasks for your Quercus course, email us at [email protected] or schedule a consultation.
You are done. Great job!