Configure the Gradebook

Relevant to: faculty and staff

This article contains information considered accurate at the time of publishing. Technology updates, changes in University security practices, policies and procedures may effect the information in this article - updates to articles are scheduled on a periodic basis and will address any required changes.

Introduction

This article explains how to first set up, and modify, the gradebook in Brightspace.

Definitions

  • Primary online course: a standardized course which is taught in one or more sections during a term
  • Non-Primary course: a unique course that stands on its own, such as for an independent study, virtual study group, residency, or special topics course

The Setup Wizard

The setup wizard walks through the essential settings for the gradebook logically. You can return to the wizard at any time to update the settings if necessary.

Initial Setup

Note: completing the Initial Setup of the gradebook with the Setup Wizard is only necessary when building a new course.

  1. From the class homepage, select Grades found in the Course Menu option in the navbar.
  2. When entering the gradebook for the first time, the Setup Wizard prompt will appear. The following six steps will determine how each graded activity will be calculated into the Final Average Grade:
    • Choose grading system: Choose a weighted, points, or formula system.
      • Weighted or Points are the preferred options.
    • Final grade release: Choose a calculated or adjusted final grade.
      • If there are potential opportunities to round up the final grades (for example, 89.7 becomes an A-), choose the "Adjusted Final Grade."
    • Grade Calculations: Choose how ungraded items will be calculated into the Final Grade. 
      • By default, the "Drop ungraded items" option is selected. This requires instructors to manually assign a "0" grade for any missing submissions to keep the Final Grade accurate.
    • Choose default grade scheme: Choose how grades will be presented to students.
      • "Percentage" is the default setting.
    • Manage view display options: Choose the number of decimal points used in grading.
      • The default option is 2.
    • Student view display options: Choose how students will see their grades.
  • The "?" icon can be found next to many of the settings in the wizard. Click on the icon to see more information about that setting.
  • Choose Continue at the bottom of each page to save the choices and move on to the next step. Choose Go Back to return to the previous step and make changes if needed.
  • Step seven shows the summary of all the settings that were selected. At the bottom of the page, select Finish to complete the setup.

Changing Settings Using the Wizard

  1. From the class homepage, select Grades found in the Course Menu option in the navbar.
  2. The gradebook has three sections:
    • Enter Grades
    • Manage Grades
    • Setup Wizard
  3. Select Setup Wizard.
  4. You will see a page that displays all the current settings of the gradebook. Scroll to the bottom and select Start.
  5. The wizard will walk through the six steps of settings, plus the confirmation page. Make the desired changes. Choose Continue at the bottom of each page to save the choices and move on to the next step. Select Go Back to return to the previous step and make changes if needed. Even if only one change is needed, all steps have to be gone through.
  6. On the confirmation page, scroll to the bottom and select Finish to save all changes.

Grading Systems

As mentioned above, instructors need to select the desired grading system for the grade book. The information below provides an overview of each system available within Brightspace.

Weighted

  • The weighted system calculates grade items as a percentage of a final grade worth 100%. The maximum points assigned to individual grade items can be any value, but their contribution towards the category they belong to, and the final grade is the percentage value (weight) assigned to them.
  • Grade items in a category count as a percentage of that category, not of the final grade. Therefore, grade items in a category should combine to a weight of 100%.
    • For example, if there is a category worth 10% of the final grade with two equally weighted grade items, the weight of each grade item is 50%, (its contribution to the category), not 5% (its contribution to the final grade).
  • If the grade items do not add up to 100%, a warning message will appear at the top of the screen. This error message can be ignored; a balanced grade book is not required. If the weights assigned to grade items do not sum to 100%, the tool adjusts the weight of each item.
    • For example, if there are three grade items with a weight of 25% each, each item is actually calculated as 33%. This is true for categories and the final grade.

Points

  • Use the points system when the maximum number of points assigned to a grade item is equal to its contribution to the final grade. Final grades are calculated by adding a student's score on all grade items together and dividing by the sum of the maximum point values. The sum of the maximum point values for all grade items does not need to equal 100.
  • With the points system, a category's weight or total points do not have to be specified. It is the maximum points assigned to an individual grade item that counts toward the final grade.
  • Make sure the maximum points assigned to grade items reflect how much each item is worth.
    • For example, don't grade each of the 20 homework assignments out of 50 points and then your final exam out of 80 points.
  • Another option in the point system is to exclude an item from the final grade calculation. This enables the instructor to evaluate a grade category, numeric grade item, select box grade item, or pass/fail grade item without including the grade in students' calculated or adjusted final grades. The New/Edit Item page and the New/Edit Category page both include an Exclude from Final Grade Calculation check box.
  • Similar functionality in the weighted system by setting the grade item or category's weight to 0%.

Formula

  • Use the formula system when a custom formula is desired that allows for conditions to calculate final grades. The formula system is based on the points system but allows the use of conditions around grade items to determine the final grade.
    • For example, a condition could require that users receive at least 50% on their midterm and final exams to pass a course.

Additional Settings

In the upper right corner of the gradebook is the Settings button. The settings covered in the setup wizard can also be found here, as well as the options for controlling how instructors see the gradebook.

  1. In the gradebook, select the Settings button.
  2. The Settings page will open on the Personal Display Options tab. These options control how the instructor sees the gradebook.
  3. A ? icon next to many of the settings. Select the icon to see more information about that setting.
  4. The other two tabs, Org Unit Display Options and Calculation Options, contain the settings covered by the Setup Wizard and offer an alternate way to access and change these settings if needed.
  5. Select the Save button at the bottom of the page to save any changes made.
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