Engrade

Engrade.com is an amazing web based software that provides a system that allows a teacher to do so many things.  I personally liked every feature that the site had to offer.  The organizational tools are so powerful.  Engrade basically allows a teacher to get rid of her paper grade book, seating charts, and class notes for all of the different classes she teaches, and allows her to keep track of all of this information on one, easy to use program.  My favorite features were the grade book, which after I determine the weights of different assignments on my grading rubric calculates each students average, the calendar, which allows me to plan class activities and for my students to always be aware of what the class is doing and what will be required of them, and the assignments section, which allows me to post assignments over the web such as homework or quizzes. The site effectively acts like a class website.  It is extremely convenient, well laid out, and very user friendly. 

I think that Engrade could be improved by perhaps making it a little flashier.  The site is quite plain.  Though it is easy to use, I think with enhanced features and design, it could be more fun.  This is less important for the teachers, who would use it because of its functionality, but more important for students, who could be more attracted to a fancy design. 

Engrade is a tool I think that classroom teachers would benefit greatly from using.  I think that teachers would find Engrade a very useful organizational tool.  It removes the need to keep a number of folders containing paperwork and records for each class a teacher instructs, and instead allows all of that information to be kept electronically.  Since it is paperless and replaces a lot of the paperwork and folders that were required in the past, it is good for the environment, which may also cause some teachers to like this program.  Since the program can also be used like a class website, where students can view assignments, the class calendar, and post in discussion forums, teachers may find that Engrade is also an easy way to keep their students up to date on what is happening in the class and to interact with them.

I think parents and students would like for teachers to use a technology like Engrade.  It allows students and parents to have up to the minute access to their (or their child’s) progress in a class.  Parents can monitor what assignments their children have due and can also monitor things like attendance and class discipline.  Engrade would provide students and parents a quick and easy manner to communicate with their teacher when they are outside of the classroom.  Engrade allows parents to be much more involved in their children’s academic life, which has a positive impact on children’s academic achievement.

Overall, I found Engrade to be an amazing tool and by far one of the most useful ones we have studied yet.  It is extremely practical and its applications are numerous.  In my opinion, I find it hard to believe that anyone could argue against the use of such a helpful piece of technology.