Add a Text Item to the Gradebook - Technology Enhanced Learning Support for Staff

A Text Item allows you to directly enter text in a Gradebook column of up to 32 characters per student. It is can be added in the Markable Items and Marks tab. Use it to write a short note or keyword to help administer assessment, for example, the name of a second marker. The column:

Gives each student a seperate text cell.
Appears in the Filter and be ordered by the text.
Content can be downloaded to work in Excel and re-uploaded.
Can be seen by staff and / or shown to students.
Is posted automatically (but can be hidden from students).
Does not support the entry or calculation marks, rubrics or feedback, due dates or points values, and does not transfer to RISIS via the EMA. Integration. (Instead, use a standard grade column to provide feedback or a grading schema to apply text based marks, for example, pass / fail.)

To set up and use a Text Item:

Add a Text Item
Instructors View
Student view

Add a Text Item

New Text Items are created in the Gradebook by adding a new Text Item and then entering text in the column cell for a student. This is done in the Markable Items or Marks tab in the Gradebook.

Add in Markable Items tab

In Markable Items, hover over one of the grey lines separating the rows. Click the purple plus icon and select “Add Item”.

Screenshot adding Text item in the Markable Item tab.

Add in Marks tab

In Marks, hover over one of the grey lines separating the columns. Click the purple plus icon and select “Add Item”.

Screenshot adding Text item in the Marks tab.

Apply settings to Text Item column

Once you have selected Add text item, a New Item panel will open. Set up the column according to your needs including due date, points, category or description.

Screenshot of Text Item create/edit panel.

Add description (b) if desired, could be helpful for other staff members and students to know the purpose of this column.
Name the column (a) something meaningful.
Return to the Marks tab and add the text to your new column (c). There is a character limit of 32.

Screenshot adding text to Text item in the Markable Items tab.

Screenshot adding text to Text item in the Marks tab.

Markable Items

In the Markable Items tab, the Text Item will appear in the same way that assessments do. Once opened, it will display the text entered in the cell for each student.

Screenshot of instructor view of text item in Gradebook Markable tab.

Screenshot of instructor view of text item opened via the Markable Items tab

Marks

In the Marks tab, the text will appear in the column next to each student. You can move the column’s position in the markable items view.

Student view

It is possible to set the Text Item as visible to or hidden from students.

If set to visible to student, they will see the Text Item as another assessment in their Gradebook. The text will appear under the Mark column.

Screenshot of student view of text item in Gradebook.

Guide last updated on May 5, 2025