Weighting Grades

Grades can be set up to be weighted by item or by category.

Weighting by Item allows instructors to determine how much each graded item will count toward the final grade. At the end of the course the weights of all items added together should equal 100%.

Weighting by Category allows instructors to assign graded items to particular categories (i.e. homework, tests, discussion, etc.) and then weight only the categories. Within each category items can be weighted equally or in proportion to the number of points they are worth. If Weighting by Category be sure to check the available categories and the assignments that are within them. To check categories, from the Action Bar, click the drop down chevron on the Manage button and choose Categories. Determine if the categories you would like to use are available in Blackboard by looking at this list. If not, you can create a new category, as follows:

• Click the Add Category button from the top menu of the Categories window.
• Type a Name for the category.
• Type a Description of the category, if desired.
• Click Submit. Click OK and return to the main Grade Center window.

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Grade Center, in the Assessment menu.
2. Click the double chevrons next to the Add Calculated Column button and choose Weighted.

   

The Add Weighted Column window opens.

Section 1: Column Information
Column Information - Blackboard requires you to provide a Column Name.
Grade Center Display Name- will be the same as the column name unless you specify something else.
Description - A description of the column can be provided.
Primary Display - Displays how the grade will be displayed, typical option is percentage.
Secondary Display - will appear in parentheses in the column.

Section 2: Dates
Dates: Creation date is provided by Blackboard.

Section 3: Select Columns
If weighting by column, select all of the items from the left side that you want included in the grade and click the right arrow (>) to move them to the right side and assign a percentage to each item on the right side. All percentages must add to 100%.

If weighting by category, select all of the categories from the left side and click the right arrow (>) to move them to the right side and assign a percentage to each category on the right side. All percentages must add to 100%. You can choose if you want items in that category weighted equally or in proportion to the point value of each and/or if you want to drop or only use certain grades from a category.

NOTE: To remove an item or category, click the red "X".

Section 4: Options
Include this Column in Grade Center Calculations -Default "Yes"allows grade to be included in the running total for all grades calculated.

Show this column in My Grades - Default "Yes" allows students to see this column in their view of the Grade Center.

Show statistics for this column in My Grades - Default "No" prevents class statistics from being show in the student view of the Grade Center.

3. When complete, click Submit.