Create Grade Categories and Grade Items

Create Grade Categories and Drop Grade Items

Note

Categories are not required. Create Categories only if you wish to group similar Grade Items or drop the lowest grade item(s) in a category.

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Manage Grades selected

Step 3

Select New and choose Category

Step 4

Enter the name of the Category.

Step 5

Weighted Grade Book only: In the Grading section, enter the weight for the Category. 

Step 6

In the Distribution section, choose how weight is handled (or points, if using a points grade book) for individual items inside the category. The option to Distribute points across all items or Distribute weight evenly across all items automatically evenly distributes the weight (or points) across items in a Category.  

Step 7

(Optional) In the text box corresponding to the Number of lowest non-bonus items to drop for each use, indicate how many grade items with the lowest scores will be dropped from the category for each user.

Note

If you drop one or more of the lowest grades in a category, it is required that the weights or points be distributed evenly across all grade items in the category.

Step 8

Select Save and Close.

Create Grade Items

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Select the New button and choose Item

Step 4

Select Numeric from the list of options.

Step 5

Enter the name of the Grade Item. 

Step 6

If the item belongs to a Category, select the Category to which the item belongs. Grade Items do not have to be in a Category.

Step 7

Enter the maximum points for the item in the Maximum Points field. If using a Weighted Grade Book, enter a weight in the Weight field. (If the item is in a Category, and the Category is set up to evenly distribute weight, a weight will be automatically entered.)

Step 8

Select Save and Close.

Create Pass/Fail and Selectbox Grade Items

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Select the New button and choose Item

Step 4

Select Pass/Fail if you want to create a Pass/Fail Grade Item. Or, select Selectbox if you want to create a Selectbox Grade Item.

Step 5

Enter a Name.

Step 6

If the item belongs to a Category, select the Category to which the item belongs. Grade Items do not have to be in a Category.

Step 7

Enter the Max Points possible for the Grade Item. If the Grade Item belongs to a Category, this option may be grayed out.

Step 8

Enter the Weight the Grade Item should contribute to its parent category or Final Grade. This option may be grayed out depending on Category or Grade Book settings.

Step 9

Use the Grade Scheme Actions Menu icon to select the scheme you would like to use. Use the University of Arizona Standard Letter Grade if you want to assign A/B/C/D/E grades.

Step 10

Select Save and Close.

Create Calculated Grade Items

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Select New, then choose Item.

Step 4

Select Calculated

Step 5

Enter a Name.

Step 6

Check the box to the left of each Grade Category/Item you would like to include in the Calculation.

Step 7

Select Save and Close.

Note

Calculated Grade Items are not included in the Final Calculated Grade, cannot be part of a grade Category, and cannot be used as a Bonus Grade Item.

Create Text Grade Items

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Select New, then choose Item.

Step 4

Select Text

Step 5

Enter a Name.

Step 6

Select Save and Close.

Note

Text Grade Items are not included in Final Grade calculations. For participants to see comments, you must allow students to view the Grade scheme symbol (opens in new tab) for all Grade Items in the Grade Book. 

Create Formula Grade Items

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Select the New button and choose Item

Step 4

Select Formula.

Step 5

Enter a Name.

Step 6

Enter the Max Points possible for the Grade Item. 

Step 7

Use the Formula Editor to enter a formula for calculating the Points Received. 

Step 8

Select Save and Close.

Note

Formula Grade Items cannot be part of a Grade Category. They also cannot be used as a Bonus Item.

Access the Formula Grade Item Editor

Step 1

Select Grades from the course Navbar.

Step 2

Verify that you are on the Manage Grades view.

Step 3

Locate the Formula Grade Item. Select the Actions Menu icon, then choose Edit.

Step 4

Scroll down to the Grading area. Select the hyperlink Edit Using the Formula Editor.

Step 5

Use the Function Actions Menu icon to select the type of formula you would like to use.

Step 6

Select Start.

Step 7

Use the Grade Item dropdown menu and Calculator buttons to complete your formula.

Step 8

To validate your formula, select the Validate button (top left). 

Step 9

When satisfied with the formula, select the Insert button.

Note

When using the editor, the only accepted text input is a comma (,). You must enter all other formula components using the dropdown menus and/or buttons provided.

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