An absolutely critical component for online courses is providing feedback to learners quickly and to providing them with grades.

• Menu: Set a menu link link for MyGrades in the Blackboard as an easy way for learners to find their grades and to view feedback. 
  
  
• Consistency: Be consistent when grading; stick with one grading scheme of Points, Percentage, or Letter Grade. 
  
  
• Use the Blackboard Gradebook: the Assignment tool in Blackboard will automatically create a Gradebook column and use Due Dates. This connection will ensure that the Calendar reflects assignment or test/quiz due dates to learners. 
  
  
• Visualize: Allow learners to see their grades and grade items as quickly as possible. If an assignment will take longer than usual for the instructor to evaluate, instructors should alert the learners to that additional time upfront.  
  
  

• Rubric and Standards: Establish a grading rubric and standard for Discussion Boards.  Using a Rubric and standard if you are using Discussion Boards will allow learners to understand expectations and make adjustments as needed.  Discussion in large classrooms can become unwieldy and difficult to read in lines of text.  

  
  

• InLine Grading: For Assignments - use the InLine Grading feature.  Have learners submit assignments (papers, reports, submissions) through the Assignment tool.

  
  

• Rubrics: Use rubrics for assignments.  Rubrics establish standards, provide information and feedback to learners and make grading quicker for Instructors. 

  
  

• Feedback: Online quizzes and tests build in feedback for all questions right and wrong answers.

  
  

• Interact: Monitor submission and communicate and remind learners of deadlines, just like you would in a face to face class.