Multi-section course management using 3D spreadsheet tools

The paper describes a spreadsheet based method to assess and influence the grading uniformity of graduate teaching assistants in multi-section courses with large enrollments. The method developed is based on a common-use grade spreadsheet issued to the teaching assistants. Its features include the option to drop low-score items from grade determination, the application of curve factors, the determination of averages and standard deviations for all course activity items, and diagnostic fields to indicate missing data. The most important strategy of the method is to periodically merge the individual grade-record spreadsheets into a three-dimensional spreadsheet developed for the course coordinator. This technique has the advantage of permitting continual assessment of grading timeliness, grading uniformity, and instructional effectiveness across all sections. As a result, feedback and guidance involving these issues can be provided to the graduate teaching assistants in a timely and efficient manner which directly benefits currently enrolled students. Extensions of the method to other instructional areas are cited.