Author: Janice Florent

A weighted grade column is a calculated column that displays the calculated result of component parts (columns and/or categories); each part is worth some percentage of the total. You can create a weighted grade based on any column and/or category in the Grade Center. For example, you can create a weighted grade column that calculates the final grade for the course. Categories such as Test, Discussion, and Assignment would be given a certain percentage of the final grade along with the percentage for other grade columns (e.g. Mid-term, Final Exam).

Follow these steps to do it.
You can add a weighted grade column by getting into the [Control Panel] of the course in which you want to add the weighted grade. Click on the [Grade Center] link (located under Assessments). Move the mouse over the [Add Calculated Column] button and select [Weighted] from the drop down menu. Enter a name that describes what the weighted grade column is in the Name field. Grade Center display name and description are optional. Select how you would like the results of the weighted grade to be shown by clicking on the pull down arrow and selecting primary display from the list. Secondary display is optional and will only be shown in the Grade Center. In the select columns section, choose which grade columns and/or categories will be used in the calculation of the weighted grade by clicking on the grade column or category and then clicking on the respective arrow to move the column/category over to the selected columns area. Enter the weight percentage to be applied to each column/category you selected. The total weight must equal 100%. When selecting a category you can choose to weigh columns equally or proportionally and whether to drop grades in the category or to use the highest or lowest grade in the category. Choose whether to calculate the weighted grade as a running total which would include only the columns that have been graded in the calculation. In the options section you should indicate whether you want to include this weighted grade column in grade center calculations, show the weighted grade column in My Grades, and show statistics for the weighted grade column in My Grades. My Grades is what is shown to your students when they go into your course. Click Submit when you are finished entering all your information and selecting the options. The weighted grade column will be added as the last column in the Grade Center.

Want more information?
Step-by-step instructions are available [PDF].
Visit the Blackboard FAQs for additional Blackboard information
or email or call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418

You can setup the Grade Center to calculate points for extra credit. Calculating extra credit is different in Blackboard version 8 than it was in earlier versions of Blackboard.

Follow these steps to do it.
To include extra credit points get into the [Control Panel] of the course in which you want to add the extra credit. Click on the [Grade Center] link (located under Assessments). Create an grade column for the extra credit and enter 0 (zero) in the points possible field. Refer to Tip #18 for information on creating a grade column. Next, find the Total Points column (or the column being used to display the total points) and click on the arrows in the column heading and select [Modify Column]. Under the Select Columns: Include in Total section, choose the [Selected Grade Columns, Calculated Columns and Categories] option. A new section for selecting columns and/or categories will be revealed. Existing grade column names will appear in the Columns to Select box on the left side of the screen. Select each column, making sure to include the extra credit column(s), but be careful not to include the Total Column within your selections. To highlight multiple columns at once, hold the CTRL key while clicking on the column names. Mac users can hold the Command key while clicking on the column names. After all columns are selected, click the arrow to move the columns to the selected columns area and click Submit when done. Extra credit points will now be reflected in the updated total column.

NOTE: If you add columns to the Grade Center later, you should update the column selections because they will not automatically be included in the total points calculations. Also, this suggestion for handling extra credit will not work if you are using weighted grades. If you must use weighted grades, you should download a copy of the Grade Center and calculate the students grades with the extra credit outside of the Grade Center.

Want more information?
Step-by-step instructions are available [PDF].
Visit the Blackboard FAQs for additional Blackboard information
or email or call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418

You can create a grading schema to match your grading scale. A grading schema is a set of rules based on percentage ranges that match scores to specific grade displays. For example, a student’s raw numeric score on a quiz that has 100 possible points is an 87. In a grading schema in which a percentage of 80 to 89 equals a B, a score of 87 would result in a B. If this grading schema is chosen as the display for the quiz, a B will display in My Grades for the student as well as in the Grade Center.

A grading schema could be used to calculate the final course grade. For example, if the total possible points for the final course grade is 600 points and 93% - 100% = A, 85% - 92% = B, 77% - 84% = C, 65 % - 76% = D, and below 65% = F, you could create a grading schema to reflect this grading scale.

A copy of the default grading schema is included in all courses when they are created. You can modify the default grading schema and/or create additional grading schemas to reflect the multiple ways in which you may need to grade throughout your courses.

Follow these steps to do it.
You create a grading schema by getting into the [Control Panel] of the course in which you want to create the grading schema. Click on the [Grade Center] link (located under Assessments). Click [Manage] on the Grade Center toolbar and then select [Grading Schemas] from the drop down menu. On the Grading Schemas page click the [Add Grading Schema] button. Enter a name for the Grading Schema. A description is optional. Enter the information for your grading scale in the schema mapping section. For example, if your grading scale is the same as the example above, on the first row you would enter 93 in the grades scored between field and enter an A in the will equal field. You have to enter a number for the percentage that grades manually entered will calculate as. For example, if you want a grade of A that you manually enter into a cell to be calculated as 97% of the total for that grade center item, then enter 97 in the will calculate as field. Click on the insert rows arrow to insert another row in the grading schema and enter the information for the remaining rows in your grading schema. Click [Submit] when you are done.

Note: The percentage range given for each grade value must begin with the lesser value listed first. The values must also overlap. Ranges must be set up in this way to avoid gaps that could occur when a score falls in between numbers in the range. The top range includes 100%.

Want more information?
Step-by-step instructions are available [PDF].
Visit the Blackboard FAQs for additional Blackboard information
or email or call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418

You can use the Grade Center to post your students grades online. Posting your students grades online will eliminate the phone calls, emails, and office visits from students trying to find out what their grades are. Columns are automatically created in the Grade Center for things like online exams, surveys, assignments, and graded discussion forums and threads. Columns for items such as oral reports, class presentations, participation, assignments and assessments done outside of Blackboard, etc are not automatically created in the Grade Center. You have to create these columns manually.

Follow these steps to do it.
You can add grade columns by getting into the [Control Panel] of the course in which you want to add the grade column. Click on the [Grade Center] link (located under Assessments) and then click the [Add Grade Column] button. Enter a name that describes what the grade column is in the Name field. Grade Center display name and description are optional. Select how you would like the score to be shown by clicking on the pull down arrow and selecting primary display from the list. Secondary display is optional and will only be shown in the Grade Center. You can optionally choose a category from the pull down list. Enter the total possible points for the grade column. You have the option of entering a due date. In the options section you should indicate whether you want to include the column in grade center calculations, show the grade in My Grades, and show statistics for the column in My Grades. My Grades is what is shown to your students when they go into your course. Click Submit when you are finished entering all your information and selecting the options. The grade column will be added as the last column in the Grade Center.

Want more information?
Step-by-step instructions are available [PDF].
Visit the Blackboard FAQs for additional Blackboard information
or email or call Janice Florent: (504) 520-7418