Add and Organize Items and Categories in the Gradebook

Relevant to: faculty and staff

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Introduction

In the gradebook, an item represents some activity that needs to be assessed, such as an assignment or quiz. These graded activities can be organized into categories. If a weighted grade book is used in a course, categories let instructors decide what percent of the final grade each category is worth. This article explains how to create and/or edit a grade item or category, move an item into a category, and associate a quiz, discussion, or assignment activity with a grade item.

Create a Grade Item

To view a video of the content in this section, use this link.

1. From the course homepage, select Grades from the Course Menu option in the navbar.
2. Select Manage Grades.
3. Select the New button and choose Item.
4. Choose from the grade item types listed below:
   • Numeric: must be used for all quizzes and discussions. Can also be used for assignments. Can be counted in the final grade.
   • Selectbox: uses a grade scheme. For use with assignments; can be included in the final grade.
   • Pass/Fail: Can be counted in the final grade.
   • Formula: Only counted in the final grade if you are using a formula grading system.
   • Calculated: NOT counted in the final grade.
   • Text: Not counted in the final grade.
5. The new grade item page will open on the Properties tab, which has three sections: General, Grading, and Display Options.
   • General section:
     • In the "Name" field, enter a title for the item.
     • In the "Category" field, click the chevron and select a category from the list. If the item is to stand on its own, choose "None".
     • If the list of categories doesn't have what you need, select the "[New Category]" link. A new window will pop up. Fill out the fields for the category as needed and select "Save". The window will close and the Properties tab will be visible to continue selecting the necessary options.
     • To include a description of the item that students can see in their view of the gradebook, select the triangle next to "Show Description" and enter a description in the field. Select the checkbox next to "Allow users to view grade item description".
   • Grading section: fill in the fields as appropriate for the grade item type. To find out more about what a field is for, select on the ? icon next to it.
   • Display Options section: this is where control of what grading information students see. To find out more about what a field is for, select the ? icon next to it.
6. To control when the item is available to students, select the Restrictions tab. The following options are available in this tab:
   • Hide the item from students.
   • Set a start and/or end date, and add it to the course calendar.
   • Add a release condition.
7. To relate the item to a learning objective, select the Objectives tab then select the Associate Learning Objectives button. A new window will open where the appropriate learning objectives can be selected.
8. Select Save and Close.

Create a Category

To view a video of the content in this section, use this link.

1. From the course homepage, select Grades from the Course Menu option in the navbar.
2. Select Manage Grades.
3. Select the New button and choose Category.
4. The new category page will open on the Properties tab, which has three sections: General, Grading, and Display Options.
   • General section:
     • In the Name field, enter a title for the category.
     • To include a description of the category that students can see in their view of the gradebook, select the triangle next to Show Description and enter a description in the field. Select the checkbox next to Allow users to view description.
   • Grading section: fill in the fields as appropriate for grading items that will be in that category. To find out more about what a field is for, select on the ? icon next to it.
   • Display Options section: this is where control to what grading information students see. To find out more about what a field is for, select on the ? icon next to it.
5. To control when the category is available to students, select the Restrictions tab. The following options are available to select from:
   • Hide the item from students.
   • Set a start and/or end date, and add it to the course calendar.
   • Add a release condition.
6. At the bottom of the page, there are three Save options:
   • Select Save and Close to save the current category.
   • Select Save and New to save the current category and go on to create a new one.
   • Select Save to save what has been done so far and continue working on this category.

Edit an Item or Category

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1. From the course homepage, select Grades from the Course Menu option in the navbar.
2. Select Manage Grades.
3. Select the chevron next to the name of the item or category and select Edit.
4. Make all of the necessary changes and select Save and Close.

Move an Item into a Category

To view a video of the content in this section, use this link.

There are times when a stand-alone item needs to be moved into a category, or an item needs to be moved from one category to another. Follow the steps below.

1. From the course homepage, select Grades from the Course Menu option in the navbar.
2. Select Manage Grades.
3. Select the chevron next to the name of the item and select Edit.
4. On the Properties tab, go to the Category field, select the chevron, and select a category from the list.
5. At the bottom of the page, select Save and Close.

Associate a Grade Item With a Quiz, Discussion or Assignment Activity

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From within the gradebook, it is not possible to associate a grade item with a specific quiz, discussion, or assignment activity. Instead, do the following:

• Quiz
  1. In the course navbar, select Course Menu and then Quizzes.
  2. Find the quiz that needs to be associated with an item in the list, select the chevron next to its name, and select Edit.
  3. Select the drop-down box of options found in the Grade Out Of section just below the name of the quiz and select the Edit or Link to Existing option.
  4. Select the Link to an existing grade item option to bring up a list of all the items in the gradebook. Select the appropriate item and select the OK button to save the selection.
  5. Select Save and Close at the bottom of the page.
• Discussion
  1. In the course navbar, select Discussions from the Course Menu option.
  2. Find the topic that needs to be associated in the gradebook, select the chevron next to its name, and select Edit Topic.
  3. Select the drop-down box of options found in the Grade Out Of section just below the name of the discussion topic and select the Edit or Link to Existing option.
  4. Select the Link to an existing grade item option to bring up a list of all the items in the gradebook. Select the appropriate item and select the OK button to save the selection.
  5. Select Save and Close at the bottom of the page.
• Assignment Activity
  1. In the course navbar, select Assignments from the Course Menu option.
  2. Find the assignment that needs to be associated in the gradebook, select the chevron next to its name, and select Edit Assignment.
  3. To the right of the grade points value field for the assignment is a drop-down menu, In Grade Book. Select the menu and then select Edit or Link to Existing.
  4. A new window will open. Select the radio button Link to an existing grade item.
  5. A drop-down menu will appear, listing all the items in the gradebook. Select the intended item and click OK. The window will close.
  6. Select Save and Close at the bottom of the page.