Navigate 3.1.4 LMS Reporting

The idea of grades and analytics is a really interesting one.  Education is so driven by grades and testing that one of the most common complaints about American education is focus on standardized testing as opposed to focus on learning.  However, quantitative data is one essential tool used to measure learning, success, comprehension, whatever it may be.  As Sir Ken Robinson Ph.D. discussed in his Ted Talk, education has changed so rapidly in the past century with the use of technology.  Prior to technology and LMS it would have been virtually impossible to compute the type of data that we now have access too (especially for 500 students or more).  It gives students a glimpse of where they stand in a course, it allows teachers to identify strengths and weaknesses and to tailor instruction to what works, and it allows administrators to measure teacher success.  

What are the options for grade reporting? 

I joined Canvas as my LMS and it has a lot of great options for entering grades and utilizing data.  I found a few guides on the website to help get started.  
First is "How do I enter and edit scores in the Gradebook?" and the other is "How do I use Speedgrader ™?  Here's how Canvas describes their unique tool "Speedgrader ™:

The SpeedGrader™ allows you to view and grade student assignment submissions in one place using a simple point scale or complex rubric. Canvas accepts a variety of document formats and even URLs as assignment submissions. Some document assignments can be marked up for feedback directly within the submission. You can also provide feedback to your students with text or media comments.

Are there various levels? 

Student level:  Students can check grades, receive grade notifications and even see "what-if" grades which allow them to calculate how grades will be affected by certain scores.

Teacher level:  This was taken from the Canvas website:

You can use SpeedGrader™ to:

• Sort submissions by student and hide student names for anonymous grading
• Evaluate assignments for each student, including resubmitted assignments
• Use rubrics to assign grades
• Leave feedback for your students
• Track your grading progress and hide assignments while grading

Course level and Program level:  Analytics are a big part of Canvas as part of the admin role.  With this tool you can "track and analyze what students, teachers, observers, and/or designers are doing within the account."  According to Canvas, "Analytics evaluate individual components of all the courses in your account and provide an overview of your account's activity."  For this reason I decided to combine course and program because I think they can kind of go together even though from an admin perspective analytics are more on the program level.  Check out this link where Canvas answers the question, "What are Analytics?"  It's a really great definition.

Program level:  See course level.

Which levels remain most valuable for the online instructor in regard to student performance? 
In regards to student performance, I think that students need to be able to view their grades.  Most online learners and higher ed learners are pretty intrinsically motivated so I think that their own check points and immediate feedback will help propel motivation and performance.