Thinkwave Educator is a feature-packed gradebook that claims to be intuitive.
Its main interface is tab-based, and contains tabs for Home, Students, Classes,
Tests & Assignments, Results, Reports, and Accounts, as well as a help
button. Thinkwave can keep multiple terms and classes in a single file, and
maintains a student list separate from class rosters. It has a wide variety of
grading options including a custom option; extensive, detailed data on students,
classes, and assignments; and a range of different report types, including bar
graphs of grade distribution and trend lines. Thinkwave can upload grades to its
own web-based system, as well as import and export text files. The basic version
is downloadable for free, and the user can buy a serial number that enables
additional features.
Good Features:
Multiple terms and classes in a single file
Wide variety of grading options
Letter grades
Percentage
Points
Pass/fail
Complete/incomplete
Check
Custom
Detailed information on classes, students, and assignments
Recurring assignments (for journal entries that must be turned in every
week, etc.)
Reports can use "secret codes" instead of names
Backup feature
Integration with Thinkwave web site where students and parents look up
grades
Bad Features:
Only one class or assignment can be edited at a time
Assignment types (categories) cannot be customized
Extra credit, late assignments, missing assignments, and excused assignments
cannot be customized
Entering grades involves multiple steps: select the assignment from a list,
select the student from a list, enter the grade
Spreadsheet view cannot be edited
Limited grade curving options
Only runs on Windows
Missing Features:
No customizable categories or multiple levels of categories
