---
title: "Improved Gradebook"
slug: "improved-gradebook"
updated: 2026-08-19T10:49:52Z
published: 2026-08-19T10:49:52Z
canonical: "clickup-help.up.ac.za/improved-gradebook"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://clickup-help.up.ac.za/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Improved Gradebook

On **August 8th**, Blackboard updated the Gradebook Grid View. Your gradebook data, grade calculations, and all course settings are completely unaffected by this update. The List View (Gradable Items) is unchanged; only the Grid View is new.

Discover the new features through a series of short videos, or scroll down this page to explore the improvements and interface simplifications.

Watch the videos: Access/Enroll yourself in the [Alerts Course](https://clickup.up.ac.za/ultra/courses/_193232_1/outline) to access the video guides and see what's changing.

## Navigation & Layout

### Views & tabs

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Four tabs: Overview, Gradable Items, Grades, Students | Two views: Grid View and List View (toggle buttons). Students tab is removed from Grid View: click a student’s name to see details. |

![top_nav](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/top_nav.png)

### Overview / To Do

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| 'Overview' tab — opens a full-page view, losing gradebook context. | 'To Do' button (top right) — opens as a panel over the gradebook so you keep your context. Shows Needs Grading, Needs Posting items, same as before; each section can be collapsed |

![overview_to_do](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/overview_to_do.png)

## Student Display & Name Options

### Name order

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| One option: First Name Last Name only. | Choose: First Name Last Name or Last Name, First Name (in Gradebook Settings → Student Options). |

![student_names](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/student_names.png)

### Student ID

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Shown beneath name — cannot be hidden or sorted. | Toggle Student ID column on or off. ID now appears in its own sortable column. |

![student_id](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/student_id.png)

### Accommodation flag

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Small flag next to student name, next to ID — easy to miss. | Flag moved to the right of the name column — more visible. |

![accommodations](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/accommodations.png)

## Download & Upload moved

This functionality has moved to the Gradebook Settings. ![download_upload](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/download_upload.png)

## Gradebook Filter

### Filter behaviour

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Filter opens in a side panel. After each selection, you must return to the list to select another item. | The filter panel opens in a modal. Dropdowns remain open after each selection, making it easy to select multiple items in one go. |

![filters](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/filters.png)

### Filter options

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Filter by Students, Groups, Categories, Types, or Items. | Same options, improved usability. |

Refer to the image above.

## Column Headers & Assessment Details

### Column menu

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Click column header to open a drop-down menu. Go in and out of actions one at a time (ping-pong effect). | Click column name to open. Assessment Details panel (stays open). Navigate between columns with left/right arrows without closing. |

![column_menu_assessment_details](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/column_menu_assessment_details.png)

### Assessment details

Previously, you had to open the assessment settings to view assessment details. From **8 August 2026**, the Assessment Details panel displays the due date, category, maximum points, grading method, number of attempts, exceptions, and accommodations—all in one place within the Gradebook, with no extra clicks required.

![assessment_details](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/assessment_details.png)

### Points possible

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Displayed in the column header. | Visible in the Assessment Details panel by clicking the column name. |

![points](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/points.png)

### Delete column

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Delete option part of the rest of the menu; clicked often accidentally. Minimal confirmation warning. | Delete moved further down in the menu, shown in red. Warning modal names the column being deleted and includes a caution banner. Harder to delete accidentally. |

![delete_item](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/delete_item.png)

## Grade Entry & The Grade Details Panel

### Clicking a cell

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Click cell → drop-down menu appears (obscures view while grading). | Click cell → Grade Details panel opens on the right side (gradebook stays visible). |

![click_cells](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/click_cells.png)

### Manual grade entry

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Must click the cell for each student, press enter to move to next cell. Grade cell menu remains open/obscures the cells beneath – easy to make mistakes. | Hover near top of column → click the edit (pencil) icon → entire column enters edit mode. Type grades directly into cells. Press Enter to advance to next student; click the checkmark or press Esc to exit edit mode. |

![edit_cells](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/edit_cells.png)

### Keyboard navigation

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| In grid edit mode, the Enter key moves to the next student; however, cell menus sometimes remain open, blocking the underlying cells. | Enter key advances to next student Esc exits edit mode. |

### What ‘post’ looks like

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Non-actionable "Posted" labels are shown in column headers menu, and green "Posted" text appears below each posted grade in the grid. | The actionable column header count indicates the number of grades awaiting posting; click it to post the grades. Individual posting status visible in the Grade Details panel when you click a cell. |

![post_grades](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/post_grades.png)

### Post all grades

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Post from gradable items or flexible grading. | Post from the column header (paper airplane icon), from flexible grading, or from To Do panel — multiple paths. |

### Override grades

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Click cell → options appeared — could override from grid and from flexible grading. | Hover over the top of the column and click the pencil icon to enter edit mode, then type directly into the cells. Grade overrides remain available through Flexible Grading. |

![override_grades](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/override_grades.png)

## Grade Details Panel (New)

The Grade Details panel is one of the most significant additions. When you click on any cell in the gradebook, this panel opens on the right — keeping the grid visible while you work. ![grade_details_panel](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/grade_details_panel.png)

### From a cell click

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Drop-down menu with limited, inconsistent options between cells. Required many clicks to accomplish tasks. | Grade Details panel shows student name, gradebook column name, grade, posting status, submission details, feedback, grader notes, accommodation options — all in one place. |

![grade_details_from_cell](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/grade_details_from_cell.png)

Note the arrows

| Image | Description |
| --- | --- |
| ![grade_details_up_down](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/grade_details_up_down.png) | The up and down arrows will take you to the next and previous student's information. |
| ![grade_details_left_right](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/grade_details_left_right.png) | The left and right arrows will take you to the next and previous assessment. |

### Assessment feedback

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Had to navigate into flexible grading to add or edit feedback. Once there, hard to check if feedback existed | View, add, or edit assessment feedback directly from the panel. Feedback is synced with flexible grading — changes appear in both places. |

### Overall feedback and grader notes

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Overall Feedback is an option, but only for certain columns. There was no way to leave feedback unless there was a submission. Attempt feedback only available in flexible grading. Grader notes wasn’t an option for all cells. | Add / view assessment feedback (Overall Feedback and/or attempt feedback) from the Grade Details panel. Add private grader notes from the Grade Details panel — no need to open the submission. **Note**: grader notes are not visible to students. |

![assessment_feedback](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/assessment_feedback.png)

### Post individual grade

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Required navigating to flexible grading. | Post grade with a single click from within the Grade Details panel. |

### Unsubmitted students

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Empty cell vs. a dash not always clear for submissions vs. non-submissions. | Grade Details panel clarifies submission status, grade status, and whether a grade is posted. |

## Accommodations, Exceptions & Exemptions

In this improved gradebook there are two types of accommodations:

1. Course level accommodations (set up in the course roster) - for the student for the module.
2. Assessment level accommodations (this is the exceptions and exemptions that can be granted to a student for a specific assessment).  

![assessment_level_accommodations](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/assessment_level_accommodations.png)

In the improved gradebook, ‘exceptions’ and ‘exemptions’ (**assessment-level accommodations** nr 2 in the image) are now grouped under a single ‘Accommodations’ section in the Grade Details panel. This section also includes a clear indication for students who have a **course-level accommodation** (nr 1 in the image). The underlying features are the same — only the label has changed to reduce confusion.

### Exemptions

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Add/edit exemptions from gradebook — could only exempt, not combine with other adjustments. Exempt displays in the cell for students with exemptions. | 1. Exempt a student from the Grade Details panel alongside other assessment-level accommodations. Exempt displays in the cell for students with exemptions. |

![Exemptions_exceptions](https://cdn.document360.io/8ea693b1-555d-4973-acf4-f29e9965c563/Images/Documentation/Exemptions_exceptions.png)

### Exceptions (due dates, access, attempts)

| Prior 8 August | From 8 August |
| --- | --- |
| Add/edit exceptions from within an assessment — multiple clicks required. | Add from the Grade Details panel: change due date, access dates, or attempts allowed. |

Refer to number 2 in the image above.

## What Hasn’t Changed

The following continue to work exactly as they do today:

- All gradebook columns, categories, and overall grade calculations
- Grade schemas and grading settings
- Flexible grading (opens and works the same)
- The List View / Gradable Items (no changes)
- Course-level accommodations
- All assessment types: assignments, tests, forms, journals, discussions
- Anonymous grading workflows
- All existing grades and submission history.