This document provides an overview of three options for tracking attendance within Blackboard: 1) a 15-week Blackboard template, 2) a 4-column Blackboard template, and 3) using Google Sheets templates with a hidden link in Blackboard. The 15-week template allows tracking attendance over individual class days in columns and calculating a total attendance grade. The 4-column template involves increasing a "Present" column each day and tracking other statuses in separate columns. Google Sheets templates can be copied, linked and hidden in Blackboard to track attendance from any device. The document demonstrates each option and instructs users to choose the best fit and download templates.

1. Blackboard Attendance Options
• 15 week Blackboard Template
• 4 Column Blackboard Template
• Google Sheets
Andrea Gilbert

2. Introductions
• Name and department
• How do you keep track of attendance now?
• What do you hope learn from this training?

3. Overview
• Blackboard currently does not have a built in
option for keeping track of attendance.
• We have several options to keep track of
attendance within Blackboard.
• You can customize the options using the
templates we provide.

4. 15 Week Template
Highlights:
• Columns for 1, 2, 3 or 4 days per week for a 15
week semester.
• Keep track of attendance for single days of class
based on a points system (default is 1 point)
• You can use in your final grade calculations.

5. 15 Week Template
Enter any value between 0 and 1:
Add 1 (P), 0.9 (E) or exempt grade, 0.5 (T), or 0 (A)

6. 15 Week Template
Grading Schema: You can adjust the grading
schema to reflect your attendance grading system
by adding more criteria. Currently, the schema is
set to:
P=Present 100%
E=Excused Absence between 90%-99%
T=Tardy between 50-90%
A=Absent 0%-50%

7. 15 Week Template
Edit Column Information: You can edit the
column information on each column to change the
column name if desired. You can also adjust the
number of points possible.
(W1D1=Week 1 Day1)

8. 15 Week Template
Delete Column: You can delete extra columns as
needed, by clicking the chevron to the right of the
title and select “delete column”.
Display of Total Attendance Grade: You can
display a total attendance grade in percentage or
score to students and use this column to include
in your final grade calculations.

9. 15 Week Template
Exempt Status: You have the option to exempt a
day of attendance for excused absences or if a
student is added late to the class.
Smart View: A smart view called Attendance will
be automatically included in the Grade Center.
You can use the smart view to sort the attendance
columns

10. Demo 15 Week Template
• What it looks like for instructor vs. student
• How to edit
• Templates available in the Blackboard
Attendance Training (Option 1)

11. 4 Column Template
Highlights:
• Each time a student is present for class, just
increase the present column by one.
• For excused, tardy, absent just add 1 point to the
corresponding column.
• Present column will display the total points for
attendance.
• Add quick comments as needed

12. 4 Column Template
After each class, increase the present column by 1 point.

13. 4 Column Template
Running Total: You can keep a running total
points (or average) in the present column and set
the points possible to the total number of days of
class or total points.
Each day that a student is present, increase their
points in the present column.

14. 4 Column Template
Edit Column Information: It is very easy to
edit the “Present” Column to fit your class grading
structure.

15. 4 Column Template
Quick Comments: If students are excused,
tardy, absent, you can also keep track of these
values. Ultimately, you can add quick comments
in if students are absent on certain days.

16. Demo 4 Column Template
• What it looks like for instructor vs. student
• How to edit
• Templates available in the Blackboard
Attendance Training (Option 2)

17. Google Sheets
Highlights:
• 3 Google Spreadsheet Templates
• Attendance is recorded electronically and a
hidden web link can be stored on the Blackboard
Course Menu
• Access to your roster anywhere

18. Google Sheets Templates
• January-May 2015 M-W-F
• January-May 2015 T-Th
• Master Template Jan-May

19. Google Sheets
Web Link in Blackboard: The template keeps
track of days present, absent, excused, and tardy
• Totals the absences, excused, tardy, and days
present.
• Add a web link on your course menu in
Blackboard and hide it from your students:

20. Google Sheets
Copy Template:
• Click on the template link that you would like to
copy. Sign into Google Drive or create a new
account.
• Go to file
• Make copy
• Enter a new name

21. Google Sheets
• To share the link: In the top right corner,
click the button that says “share”.
• You should see the following screen. You will
need to click the icon that says “get shareable
link”.
• Copy the link

22. Google Sheets
To insert the link into your Blackboard
Course Menu:
• Click on the plus sign in the top upper left corner
of your menu and choose Web Link
• Give it a name and paste in the URL for your
spreadsheet from Google.
• Don’t make it available to users.

23. Demo Google Sheets
• What it looks like for instructor
• How to edit
• Templates available in the Blackboard
Attendance Training (Option 3)

24. What option will work for you?
• After reviewing the three options, which option
will work best for you for your needs?
• Download the appropriate templates and Import
into your own class
• Take the Check out Survey on Blackboard to
complete this training.

25. For More Help
Andrea Gilbert
agilbert14@monroecc.edu
MCC-Brighton
Faculty Innovation Center
3-150