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Grade Center - Edit/Create Custom Categories and Weights

In the Grade Center, you can use categories to group related columns together and organize the data.

With categories, you can perform these tasks:

  • Filter your view of the Grade Center. For example, you can view only assignment columns in the Grade Center grid.
  • Calculate grades. For example, you can assign a weight to a category when you calculate final grades with a weighted column.
  • Create a smart view. A smart view is a focused look at the Grade Center that shows only the columns that match a set of criteria. For example, you can create a smart view that only displays columns associated with the test category.
  • Create a report. You can create a printable report that displays statistics of performance for all of the columns in a certain category.

Eight default categories

By default, these eight categories are created in the Grade Center:

  • Assignment
  • Blog
  • Discussion
  • Journal
  • Self and Peer
  • Survey
  • Test
  • Wiki-when the tool is available and you created a gradable wiki

When you create a gradable item from the list, a grade column is created automatically for the item in the Grade Center. The column is associated automatically with the correct category.

This answer includes the following sections:

Create a Category

You can create as many categories as needed to organize your Grade Center data. The Categories page in the Grade Center displays the default categories and those you create. Each category's row displays an optional description and the grade columns associated with that category. When you manually create a grade column, you can associate it with a default or custom category. If you don't, it defaults to No Category.

Grade Center

  1. In Course Management on the left side of your course, click Control Panel.
  2. Click on Grade Center.
  3. Then click on Full Grade Center.

Manage Categories

  1. Hover on the Manage button.
  2. Click Categories.

Create Category

Click Create Category.

Category Information

  1. Enter a name for your category and a description (optional).
  2. Click Submit.

Repeat this process as many times as necessary until all of the categories you need have been created.

We suggest that your categories EXACTLY match those listed in your syllabus.

Edit a Category

To edit or delete a category you created, access its menu. NOTE: You can't delete a category that has columns associated with it.

Grade Center

  1. In Course Management on the left side of your course, click Control Panel.
  2. Click on Grade Center.
  3. Then click on Full Grade Center.

Manage Categories

  1. Hover on the Manage button.
  2. Click Categories.

Choose Category to Edit

  1. Click the down arrows next to the category to be edited.
  2. Click Edit.

Edit Category

  1. Edit the name and description of the category.
  2. Click Submit.

Associate Columns with a Category

Now you are ready to create columns and/or associate existing columns with specific categories.

  • Columns refer to specific assignments (ex: Test #1, Week 1 Homework, Research Paper, etc.).
  • Categories are types of assignments. For example: Test #1, Test #2, and Test #3 will all go in the Tests category.

When you go to weight your categories (Test = 50%, Quizzes = 25%, Project = 5%, Final = 20%), all of the columns within that category are considered.

Create Columns

We recommend creating manual columns - one for each assignment. Please see our answer for how to Create a Column Manually.

Weighting Categories

Now that the correct columns have been created, we can create the Overall Grade column and weight the categories based on our criteria above.

Create Calculated Column

  1. Hover on Create Calculated Column.
  2. Click Weighted Column.

Column Information

  1. Enter a name for the column. You can also provide an optional description.
  2. Set the Primary Display to Percentage and the Secondary Display to Letter.

Set Weights for Categories

  1. Select the categories that match your syllabus.
  2. Click the right arrow to move them to the Selected Columns box.
  3. Adjust the weights of each category by typing them in the % box. You can also choose how you want each category calculated.
  4. Make sure the Total Weight equals 100%.
  5. Calculate as a Running Total is set to Yes by default. We recommend keeping this as is but you can change it if you'd like.

Set Options and Submit

  1. Configure the column's options. These are the default settings. You can change them if you would like.
  2. Click Submit.

Success!

You have successfully created columns and associated them with categories. For more information, please see the video below.

Contact the North Institute

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