Gradebooks
are split into Categories and Items. Categories are sections in the gradebook
that house the grade items, which are listed beneath each category. Categories
can be set to divide up points and weights across all items so when items are
completed, the grade items contribute to a final grade for the category. This
tutorial demonstrates how to create a gradebook category in MyFIRE.
1. Locate
the course where you would like to create a gradebook category.
2. Select
grades from the navigation bar
3. Select
manage grades.
4. Select
new to create a new gradebook category.
5. In
the drop-down menu, select category.
6. Enter
a category title in the name field.
7. If
using a points-based grading system and if bonus grade items will be added to
the grade category, select the allow category grade to exceed category weight
checkbox.
8. If
the gradebook is a points-based gradebook and if the category should not be
calculated into the final grade calculation, select the checkbox for exclude
from final grade calculation.
9. If
using a weighted grading system, under the Grading section, enter the weight of
the grade category.
a. If bonus grade items
will be added to the grade category, select the checkbox allow category grade
to exceed category weight.
10. Next,
choose a distribution based upon the course’s design.
a. If using a weighted
grading system, select how the weight will be distributed across the category
by choosing one of the following options:
i. Manually Assign Weights
to Items in the Category - this option allows instructors to have grade items
with different weight values.
ii. Distribute weights by
points across all items in the category - this option will automatically
calculate the grade items’ weight based upon the grade items’ point value. For
example, if one item is worth 100 points and a second item is worth 50 points,
the first item will have a higher weight in the category.
iii. Distribute weight
evenly across all items - This option will automatically assign the same weight
to all gradebook items in the category (totaling 100%). Also, this is the only
option that allows for the highest or lowest grade items to be dropped).
b. If using a points
grading system and if all grade items nested under the category should have the
same point value, select the distribute points across all Items checkbox.
i. Then enter the desired
number of points that each grade item under this specified category will have
in the points per Item field.
ii. If you would like to
drop the highest or lowest grade item (non-bonus) automatically, enter the number
of items to drop from the gradebook final grade calculation in the preferred
highest or lowest field. For example, if you would like to drop the 2 lowest
grade items in the category, enter a ’2’ in the Number of lowest non-bonus
items to drop for each user.
11. Under
the display option settings, there are options to override the view settings
for both students and instructors for the category total. ID&T does not
recommend changing the display options in the category and grade item settings
individually. If you would like to change the student display options, please
navigate to the Setup Wizard (step 6) to make the display change systematically
for the whole gradebook. If any display changes are made individually to the
gradebook category or item, then any additional changes will need to be made or
updated on the category/grade item level moving forward.
12. Select
save and close. The category will display in the gradebook. Grade items can now
be nested in the category, or move grade items into the newly created
category.
