Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Beginning Fall 2024, Digital Desk, the previous solution for Scantron bubble sheets, will be decommissioned and the Exam Scoring service has been replaced with Gradescope Bubble Sheets. 

This decision is part of the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology’s commitment to enhance the educational tools offered at the University of Iowa. It was made after careful consideration, including interviews with instructors, consultations with governance committees, and thorough service reviews. 
Gradescope Bubble Sheets is a robust and user-friendly platform that offers similar functionality to Digital Desk and Exam Scoring. It allows for quick and accurate grading of multiple-choice exams, providing detailed analytics that can help improve teaching and learning outcomes. In addition, the Copy Center will continue to provide integral support and services. Instructors can continue to use the Copy Center to pick up Gradescope Bubble Sheets templates and scan completed exams.. 

The Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology understands that change can be challenging, and is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. The Academic Technologies team will also be offering training sessions to help you familiarize yourself with Gradescope Bubble Sheets and make the most of its features. OTLT encourages you to attend these sessions, which can be found on the Events page on OTLT's website. OTLT also recommends that all instructors visit the Gradescope Bubble Sheets page on the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology website where instructors can learn more about Gradescope Bubble Sheets, how the Copy Center can assist them, and FAQs about this change.

OTLT appreciates your understanding and cooperation during this transition. If you have any questions or need more assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the ITS Help Desk.