If you are using Excel (or similar software) to import grades:
Prepare your data file so that it can be uploaded and merged with the data in SPARK. Be sure that only the essential columns are included and that there are no rows that contain duplicate student names or IDs (this will cause the upload to fail). See the documentation below for details on how to prepare and upload a file.

If you are calculating final grades in SPARK:
Prepare a calculated column that collects the scores from all the appropriate grading columns and converts the total to a 100-point (%) scale. Create a letter grade column named exactly “Final Grade”* that converts the calculated total to a letter grade using your personal grading criteria. (* Note that you will have to rename or delete an existing “Final Grade” column to do this.) See the documentation below for details on how to create columns, calculate scores, and apply grading critieria.

If you are using Excel (or similar software) to import grades:

• Import Student Data into SPARK [PDF, 101k]

If you are calculating final grades in SPARK:

• Calculate Final Grades in SPARK for Upload to SPIRE [PDF, 132k]

• Check that grades are in the “Final Grade” column in SPARK (note the name has to match exactly: capital F "Final" space capital G "Grade”).
• If there are any blank grades or any students who do not appear in SPARK, you will still have the opportunity to add or change grades in SPIRE in the next step.

Grade transfers begin at the start of exams and end when grades are due. After midnight each night, the grades in the Final Grade column of SPARK are picked up by an automatic process and transferred to SPIRE. By 5:00 a.m. that morning, the grades appear in SPIRE and are ready to approve. See Step Three: Approve your Grades in SPIRE for more information.

Contact the Instructional Media Lab (instruct@oit.umass.edu, or 545-2823) with questions or to make an appointment. The Media Lab is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.