ICYMI, an Automatic Zero Grading for Missing Submissions feature was introduced with our July Continuous Delivery updates. The automatic zero grading feature automatically assigns a score of zero (0) to unsubmitted learner activities once the due date passes. This automation eliminates the need for instructors to manually assign zeros to missing submissions, simplifying the process of identifying learners who have not submitted their course work. Additionally, learners benefit by receiving a more accurate view of their grade calculations for individual activities and the overall course.
Automatic zero grading is an optional feature that must be enabled by the instructor. It is enabled on a course-by-course basis. You will see the option to enable Automatic Zero for Missing Submissions in the Setup Wizard and in Grade Book settings.
The Automatic Zero for Missing Submissions grading option comprises two main features:
- Automatically assigning a grade of zero for unreceived submissions past due date: This feature ensures that any assignment not submitted by the due date is automatically given a zero.
- Automatically tagging the assigned zero grade: This indicator shows the grade was automatically assigned, not manually graded by the instructor.
You can differentiate between system-added zero grades and manually entered zero grades in the Grade Book.
On the Enter Grades tab in the Grade Book, instructors see a dashed underline applied to automatic zeros (0) along with a tooltip, that appears when you hover over it, to indicate that the system automatically applied the zero (0).
On the View Grades page, learners see a zero (0) grade appear, along with a default text message stating: This activity is overdue, and you haven’t completed it. Complete it now to update your grade. This default text is dynamic: learners can only see the message until the end date for the activity, at which time the feedback disappears. Instructors cannot edit this dynamic message text. Instructors must manually enter their own feedback comments if they want the learner feedback to persist.
NOTE: The default text is not grade feedback. The message text disappears when the grade item is regraded, hidden, or past the end date. Additionally, the default text does not appear in grades notifications, data sets, or user progress. Therefore, instructors must manually enter a comment if they want to provide feedback on the zero grade.
Timing and Availability for Automatic Zero Grading
Timing
- The Automatic Zero feature is most effective when implemented at the start of a course. Once automatic zero grading is turned on, only activities with due dates in the future will be able to trigger automatic zero grading.
- Automatic zero will not affect grades retroactively. Manually grading missed submissions is still required in this situation.
- There is no retroactive automatic zero grading applied for new users enrolled after the due date has passed for activities. Courses with frequent additions of new users should consider this limitation.
- This feature is based on local time zones for both instructors and learners. It follows the same rules as existing due dates.
- Automatic zero grading is triggered within minutes of a due date passing. Note that it may take up to 15 minutes for zero grades to appear in the Grade Book.
Availability
- Automatic zero grading only applies to course activities with grade associations and a future due date. Editing an activity to change its past due date to a future due date also applies the automatic zero grading feature.
- Automatic zero grading only applies to visible and available activities. If an assessment has Release Conditions and due date, a learner will only receive an Automatic Zero if they meet the release conditions when the due date passes.
- Automatic zero grading is course-wide setting. It cannot be selectively enabled or disabled at the activity or grade item level.
- Automatic zero grading applies to individual and group assignments.
- Automatic zero grades apply to special access due dates. In the event special access is added after the original due date, the original 0 grade remains in place until the activity is evaluated manually.
- Learners can submit a course activity after the due date after they have received an automatic zero (if the activity remains available). Instructors can manually grade and override the zero. In this case, the corresponding overdue indicators will be cleared in the gradebook and learner view of grades.
- Automatic zero functionality publishes grade items with zero to learners automatically in the Grades view.
- Like other grade settings, automatic zero setting is respected and copied over when copying a course. Note the setting does not persist when importing or exporting a course or grades.
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About automatic zero grading for missing submissions
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