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Blackboard Ultra: Faculty Resource: Calculate Grades

 

Blackboard Ultra: Faculty Resource

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Calculation Columns

Purpose

  • Combine data from multiple sources in the gradebook to display a grade based on the selected schema.

Considerations

  • "Total Calculation" columns are commonly used to provide students with another view of the "Overall Grade", where one is in points and the other is percentages or letter grades.
  • Calculation columns are commonly used to calculate a score based on a selection of coursework.
  • They can be used in calculations in other calculation columns.
  • These columns will not be visible to students unless there is a grade entered and the item is marked as visible to students.

Adding a Calculation Column

  1. Go to either the Gradable Items or the Grades view in the course Gradebook.
  2. Hover over a line between two gradable items and click on the "+" that appears.
  3. Select "Add Calculation".

Select "Add Calculation" from the column type menu that appears when the "+" between two columns is clicked.

  1. Enter a descriptive name for the calculation column.
  2. Select a grade schema from the dropdown menu.

Select a grade schema for the calculation column from the dropdown menu.

  1. Create your calculation formula by clicking on items in the left pane, adding them to the right pane.
    • Functions and Variables
      • Average: Calculates the average for selected categories, individual items or other calculations.
      • Total: Generates a total based on points allowed compared to cumulative points.
      • Minimum: Determines the minimum grade within selected categories. This could be used for calculations where the lowest grade in a category is dropped.
      • Maximum: Determines the maximum grade within selected categories. This could be used for standards- or proficiency-based grading, where only the highest grade counts.
      • Variable: Select an individual graded item. This could be used for weighted calculations.
    • Operators: +, -, /, *, (, ), or a numeric Value
  2. Specific categories or individual coursework items can be selected within items from the "Functions and Variables" section by hovering over a function in the right pane and clicking on the dropdown arrow.

Click on the down carat of a function in the right pane to see a list of categories or individual work to include in the the function's calculation.

  1. Functions or variables can be removed from a calculation by hovering over them and clicking on the "x" within a circle.
  2. Once your formula is complete, click on Validate to check if there are any errors that will prevent the calculation from occurring.
  3. Prese the Save​​​​​​​ button.

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