Grade Passback

VivaEdu can automatically push grades and feedback to your LMS gradebook using the Assignment and Grade Services (AGS) protocol.

What is Grade Passback?

Grade passback (via AGS) allows VivaEdu to:

• Send rubric scores to LMS gradebook
• Include text feedback
• Update existing gradebook columns
• Notify students of new grades (per LMS settings)
• Eliminate manual grade entry

How It Works

Setup Phase

1. LMS administrator enables AGS in LTI 1.3 tool registration
2. VivaEdu receives AGS endpoint URLs during LTI launch
3. When creating a viva, you link it to an LMS assignment
4. VivaEdu stores the grade column/line item reference

Grading Phase

1. You review student viva and fill rubric
2. Calculate total score (automatic)
3. Add text or video feedback
4. Submit review in VivaEdu

Passback Phase

1. You click "Push Grade to LMS" (individual or batch)
2. VivaEdu makes AGS API call to LMS
3. Sends:
   • Score (e.g., 85/100)
   • Activity progress (Completed)
   • Grading progress (FullyGraded)
   • Text feedback
   • Timestamp
4. LMS updates gradebook
5. Student sees grade in LMS

Modes of Grade Passback

Manual Push (Recommended)

You control when grades sync:

• Review all submissions first
• Ensure consistency
• Make adjustments if needed
• Push all grades simultaneously
• Students see grades at the same time

Individual Push

Push grades one at a time:

• After reviewing each student
• Click "Push to LMS"
• Grade syncs immediately
• Useful for rolling releases or urgent cases

Batch Push

Push multiple grades at once:

• From batch review completion page
• Or from assignment detail page
• Click "Push All Grades to LMS"
• All reviewed sessions sync
• More efficient for large classes
• Logged in audit logs

What Gets Sent

Score

• Total rubric score (e.g., 85/100)
• LMS calculates percentage automatically
• Matches format LMS expects

Text Feedback

• All text feedback from all questions
• Formatted for readability
• Appears in LMS feedback area
• Students can read in LMS

What's NOT Sent

• Video feedback (provide VivaEdu link instead)
• Audio/video recordings (privacy)
• Detailed rubric breakdown (summary only)
• Transcripts (students see in VivaEdu)

Grade Column Management

Creating Grade Columns

When linking to LMS:

• Existing assignment: Uses existing gradebook column
• New assignment: VivaEdu creates new column via AGS
• Column name matches viva title
• Max points matches rubric total

Updating Grades

You can push grades multiple times:

• Latest push overwrites previous grade
• Useful if you need to adjust after initial push
• LMS may keep grade history (depends on LMS)
• Timestamp shows last update

Verification Status Column

For verification vivas (post-grading oral checks):

• VivaEdu creates separate AGS line item
• Tag: VERIFICATION_STATUS
• Score: 0 (not verified) or 1 (verified)
• Separate from primary grading column
• Tracks which students completed verification

Troubleshooting Grade Passback

Grades Not Appearing in LMS

Check:

• AGS is enabled in LTI tool registration
• Viva is properly linked to LMS assignment
• You clicked "Push to LMS" after reviewing
• LMS gradebook column exists and is visible
• Check VivaEdu audit logs for error messages

Grades Push to Wrong Column

• Check viva LMS linkage in Step 6
• Verify you selected correct LMS assignment
• Edit viva and re-link if needed
• Re-push grades

Partial Push Success

• Some students' grades push, others fail
• Usually due to LMS enrollment timing issues
• Retry failed pushes individually
• Check audit logs for specific error messages

Best Practices

Platform-Specific Notes

Blackboard

• Uses REST API + AGS for optimal experience
• Can create and update grade columns
• Supports text feedback in grading

Moodle

• Standard AGS protocol
• Feedback appears in Moodle Assignment feedback area
• Grade history tracked by Moodle

Canvas

• Standard AGS protocol
• Grade appears in SpeedGrader
• Text comments included