By default students receive notifications if items are due, grades are available, new content and tests are available, or when there are unread discussions and blogs (Blackboard).
HOW TO HIDE/UNHIDE COLUMNS FROM STUDENTS
An Instructor can set a column from hidden to available by navigating to the "Full Grade Center" and selecting the "more options" button. From there a drop-down menu will open where one of the options will be to "Hide from Students (on/off)". It is easy to tell if a column is hidden from students by the red slash next the column's name. If the column is not hidden it will not have a red slash.
By doing hiding the column from student view, Instructors are able to enter the grades earned and make the column available with the all of the grades at once. This way all of the students will have access to their grade at the same time. The problem is that students will not receive a notification of the new grade being posted, so they will not know that their item has been graded unless they go into their Grade Center and notice the change. At this moment, it is recommended to post an Announcement in the course or sending an email notifying the students that a grade has been made available.
By doing hiding the column from student view, Instructors are able to enter the grades earned and make the column available with the all of the grades at once. This way all of the students will have access to their grade at the same time. The problem is that students will not receive a notification of the new grade being posted, so they will not know that their item has been graded unless they go into their Grade Center and notice the change. At this moment, it is recommended to post an Announcement in the course or sending an email notifying the students that a grade has been made available.