Gradebook improvements

Note: This page is a work-in-progress. Feedback and suggested improvements are welcome. Please join the discussion on moodle.org or use the page comments.

Moodle 2.0

Improving the usability of the Moodle gradebook is one of the main targets for Moodle 2.0.

This evolving page summarises a number of proposed changes, derived from community suggestions in the Gradebook forum and in the tracker, with special attention given to the issues with the most votes.

We would really like your feedback on:

The changes already proposed here
Any issues that you feel are not yet addressed

We would also like your contributions to Gradebook uses.

Please join the discussions and post your suggestions in the Gradebook forum.

Stage 1

Edit categories and items advanced settings

Changes to be implemented immediately for 2.0, and where possible included in Moodle 1.9.5.

Easier editing of categories and items

MDL-16913 New "Edit categories and items" page, with hide/show advanced settings, moving of multiple items between categories and quick editing of multiple settings
MDL-17829 Combine category grade item and category edit forms

Grader report improvements

Simple grader report from LSU

The Grader report is the main teacher view of the gradebook. The current grader report is a 'proof of concept' i.e. it includes tons of settings.

MDL-18228 Add horizontal scrollbar to scroll grades while students stay fixed (as used in the LSU simple grader report)

Statistics report

Continuous grade distribution visualization

MDL-13501 (will be resolved by [https://tracker.moodle.org/browse/CONTRIB-477 CONTRIB-477]) Animated grade statistics report (GSoC project by Daniel Servos) can be added as a plugin, with visibility controlled by a capability

Better gradebook navigation

MDL-18004 Implement tabs navigation
MDL-12631 Grader report breadcrumbs are too long

Further usability improvements and bug fixes

MDL-13960 Make full use of title attributes in the gradebook
MDL-14961 Adding a help button next to the "Synchronise legacy grades"

Stage 2

Changes be implemented at a later date.

Simplifying the gradebook

MDL-18049 Investigate ways of reducing the number of settings in the gradebook. Currently only grade category settings can be forced and hidden by an admin. See Gradebook settings review.
Add an admin setting for choosing which aggregation types can be used, as suggested in the discussion Some gradebook observations (LSU gradebook only includes weighted mean, simple weighted mean and sum)
Add admin settings for disabling gradebook features such as multiplicator, offset, calculations

Hidden activities

MDL-16381 Do not display hidden activities in the gradebook

Groups access

MDL-15617 Showing all groups in gradebook when user restricted to one
MDL-18119 Restrict teachers to their own groups when accessing User Reports

Outcomes

Review outcomes and how they are implemented in the gradebook
MDL-16103 Have an icon for outcomes on the edit categories and items page

New features

MDL-12203 Bulk message direct from the gradebook

Further changes under consideration

MDL-14831, MDL-15033 and MDL-16363 Issues relating to the "Sum of grades" aggregation type
MDL-13417 If outcomes are disabled, outcomes report should not be available
MDL-15050 Grades entered in 1.9 gradebook should show in student activity report

Documentation