PaperGrade: Systems Architecture — Printable Slide Deck
How PaperGrade works under the hood
A high-level technical overview for school IT directors, privacy reviewers and technology leaders.
What this presentation covers
- How teachers and students reach PaperGrade
- How classrooms and assignments are organized
- How assessments are created, reviewed and published
- How submissions are graded and reported
- How answer keys and student work are protected
- What schools should consider when rolling out
One web application, three jobs
Create
Teachers upload or build assessments.
Share
Assignments go to a classroom by code, link or QR.
Grade
Supported questions grade automatically; teachers review.
Nothing to install
Any modern browser
Works on Chromebooks, laptops, tablets and phones.
Encrypted connection
All traffic travels over HTTPS.
No device software
No apps or extensions for IT to deploy.
How a request moves through PaperGrade
User
Teacher or student in a browser.
Encrypted link
HTTPS connection to the application.
Access checks
Teacher sign-in or classroom code is verified.
Secure cloud
Data stored with managed cloud infrastructure.
Teachers sign in. Students don't need accounts.
Teacher accounts
Teachers sign in to create, publish and grade.
Student access
Students join an assignment with a classroom code, link or QR code.
Separate permissions
Students can submit work; only teachers can see results and keys.
Classrooms keep work organized
One per section
Teachers create a classroom for each class or period.
Teacher-owned
A classroom's assignments and results belong to its teacher.
Open or closed
Teachers decide when each assignment accepts submissions.
Two ways to build an assessment
Upload
Bring a PDF worksheet, test or answer key.
Build
Or write questions in the editor.
Draft
Everything starts as an unpublished draft.
From document to draft assessment
Upload
Teacher adds a document.
Process
PaperGrade reads it and proposes questions.
Draft
Results land as an editable draft.
Teacher checks
Nothing is published automatically.
The teacher is always the final reviewer
- Edit any question, answer or point value
- Add pictures and diagrams above questions
- Check the answer key before publishing
- Preview what students will see
- Publish only when ready
Publishing makes an assignment available
Publish
Teacher publishes to a classroom.
Share
Code, link or QR code goes to students.
Open
Assignment accepts work while open.
Close
Teacher closes it to stop new submissions.
Fast entry without student logins
QR code
Students scan from a projector or printed handout.
Direct link
Post in the class page or LMS.
Classroom code
Type a short code on any device.
What happens when a student submits
Enter
Student opens the assignment and enters their name.
Answer
Work saves as they go.
Submit
Submission is recorded for the teacher.
Score
Student sees a grade summary, not the key.
Automatic where it can be, teacher-checked always
Supported questions
Multiple choice, true/false and matching grade instantly.
Partial credit
Matching questions earn partial credit.
Teacher review
Teachers review submissions and fix corrections.
Reports go to the teacher
Results view
Every student's score for an assignment.
PDF reports
Detailed downloadable reports for records.
Short-lived links
Report downloads use private, expiring links.
Answer keys stay with the teacher
Teachers can
- – See and edit the answer key
- – See every submission
- – Download reports
Students can
- ✓ See questions for open assignments
- ✓ Submit their own answers
- ✓ See their own score only
Who can do what
- Teachers manage only their own classrooms and assessments
- Only the teacher can publish, close or edit an assignment
- Only the teacher can view results and reports
- Students can submit to open assignments only
- Shared resources (In Preview) are opt-in by the teacher
Collect less. Protect what's collected.
No student accounts
No student emails or passwords to store.
Minimal identity
A name on a submission is enough for the teacher.
Private results
Results visible only to the classroom's teacher.
How information is handled
- Data stored with managed cloud infrastructure
- Encrypted in transit; encrypted at rest where the provider supports it
- Student data is not sold
- Schools can request removal of their data
- Detailed handling documentation available on request
Rolling out across a school
Pilot
A few teachers convert familiar assessments.
Devices
Confirm student devices can reach papergrade.app.
Train
Short teacher walkthrough.
Expand
Add departments as teachers are ready.
What IT should check
- Allow papergrade.app through the content filter
- Confirm camera access if students scan QR codes
- No software installation required
- Works on managed Chromebooks
- Request a deeper review during onboarding if needed
Frequently asked IT questions
Does it need student accounts?
No. Students join by code, link or QR.
Is it connected to our SIS?
No automatic SIS sync is claimed.
Is it shared with TrackStudents?
No. It's an independently operated application.
PaperGrade architecture at a glance
- Browser-based, nothing to install
- Teacher sign-in; no student accounts
- Teacher review before anything is published
- Answer keys never shown to students
- Private, teacher-only reports
Plan a PaperGrade IT review
Schools requiring additional technical, privacy, or security documentation may request a more detailed review during onboarding.