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Grade Center: Calculate Grades

A new course contains two automatically created calculated columns: a Running Total and Running Weighted Total (running means that ungraded items are excluded from the calculation). However, you can Add Calculated Columns to perform customized grade calculations and include only selected columns in the calculations. Calculated columns can be displayed or hidden from the students.

Possible Calculated Columns are:
  • Weighted – this column sums up individual earned grades in relation to their percentage in the total grade: Sum=[(points earned/points possible)*weighted percentage of an individual graded item]
  • Total – this column sums up the points received for all or selected graded items.
  • Average – this column calculates the average for all or selected grades.
  • Minimum/Maximum – this column displays the minimum or maximum grade for a selection of grades.
Note
  • Columns with Text as the primary display cannot be used in grade calculations.
  • A grade column that is set NOT to be included in Grade Center calculations will not display in the column selection list for a Calculated column.
  • To select multiple adjacent columns, press and hold a Shift key while making the selection. To select multiple non-adjacent columns, press and hold the Control (Apple) key while making a selection.
  • When creating Weighted and Average Calculated columns, you can choose to drop lowest or highest grades by selecting a category to be used in calculation. Items have to be previously assigned to this category.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Create a Weighted Calculated Column

A Weighted Calculated Column sums up individual earned grades in relation to their percentage in the total grade. An individual earned grade is calculated as earned points divided by possible points and multiplied by weighted percentage of this grade in the total grade.

For example, if a weighted column includes in its calculation 3 graded items (exam – 20% of the grade; paper - 30% of the grade; and a project - 50% of the grade) and a student earned 80 out of 100 points on the exam, 95 out of 100 on the paper, and 100 out of 100 on the project, the formula for calculating the grade is: (80/100 * .2) + (95/100 *.3) + (100/100 *.5)

To create a Weighted Calculated Column:

  1. Move the cursor over the Add Calculated Column icon in the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
  2. Select Weighted from the menu.
  3. Complete the information for the Add Weighted Column page:
      Column Information
      • Enter a Column name. A required field, Column Name is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field will only display the first 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Grade Center Display Name. This appears as the column header in the Grade Center. This field displays 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Description if necessary.
      • Select a Primary Display option from the drop-down menu. The grade will be displayed in this format both in the Grade Center and students’ My Grades.
      • Select a Secondary Display from the drop-down menu. This selection displays the secondary format for this column denoted by parentheses in the Grade Center.
      Dates
      • Select a Grading Period from the drop-down menu if you created one before.
      Select Columns

      • Select the items to be included in the Weighted calculation.
        • Columns to Select (a list of all columns in the Grade Center that are set to be included into calculations) - Select a column and click the arrow to add it to the selection.
        • Categories to Select  (a list of all categories in the Grade Center) - Select a category and click the arrow to add it to the Weighted Grade column.
      • After all columns and categories have been selected, enter the percentage for each column or category to be included in the Weighted Grade. Percentages should add up to 100%.
      • When a category has been selected, several other options appear:
        • Select a Grading Period for the category using the drop-down menu. This will only appear if you created a Grading Period before. Only columns within the selected Grading Period will be included in the Weighted Grade.
        • Select how to weigh columns within the category: Equally or Proportionally. Choosing Equally applies equal value to all columns within a category. Choosing Proportionally applies the appropriate value to a grade item based on its points compared to other columns in the category.
        • If you decide to drop high/low grades within the category, select this option and type the number of grades to drop.
        • If you decide to use only the highest/lowest grade in the category, select this option and select whether it should be highest or lowest.
        • To remove a selected grade item or category from consideration, click the red “x”.
      • Calculate as Running Total – Select Yes to include only those items that have grades or attempts. Selecting No for this option includes all items in the calculations, using a value of 0 for the item if there is no grade.

        Important! If a student submitted an attempt (completed a test or submitted a file that needs grading) and an instructor has not entered the grade for the assessment yet, the column will include this attempt in the calculations with 0 value.
      Options

      • Include this column in Grade Center calculations – Select NO to exclude this Calculated column from other Grade Center calculations.
      • Show this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display the column in students’ My Grades.
      • Show Statistics (average and median) for this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display class average and median in students’ My Grades.
  4. Click Submit.
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Create a Total Calculated Column

A Total Calculated Column sums up the points received for all or selected graded items: all grade columns, grade columns in a grading period, or selected columns and categories. For example, an instructor can use this column to calculate total points received by students only for the 1st quarter.

To Create a Total Calculated Column:
  1. Move the cursor over the Add Calculated Column icon in the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
  2. Select Total from the menu.
  3. Complete the information for the Add Total Column page:
      Column Information
      • Enter a Column name. A required field, Column Name is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field will only display the first 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Grade Center Display Name. This appears as the column header in the Grade Center. This field displays 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Description if necessary.
      • Select a Primary Display option from the drop-down menu. The grade will be displayed in this format both in the Grade Center and students’ My Grades.
      • Select a Secondary Display from the drop-down menu. This selection displays the secondary format for this column denoted by parentheses in the Grade Center.
      Dates
      • Select a Grading Period from the drop-down menu if you created one before.
      Select Columns
      • Select the items to be included in the Total Points column. Possible selections include the following:
        • All Grade Columns – choose this option to include all gradable columns in the total calculation.
        • All Grade Columns in Grading Period – this option is available only if you created a grading period before.
        • Selected Grade Columns, Calculated Columns and Categories – choose this option to select individual gradable items in the list.  Click on the arrow to move the selected items into the Selected Columns box. You can select multiple columns and categories.
        • To remove a selected item from consideration, click the red “x”.
      • Calculate as a running total – Select Yes to include in the total only the columns that have been graded. Select No to include all items.
      Options
      • Include this column in Grade Center calculations – Select NO to exclude this Calculated column from other Grade Center calculations.
      • Show this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display the column in students’ My Grades.
      • Show Statistics (average and median) for this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display class average and median in students’ My Grades.
  4. Click Submit.
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Create an Average Calculated Column

An Average Grade column calculates the average for all or selected grades, for example, an average grade on all quizzes taken during the semester.

To Create an Average Calculated Column:
  1. Move the cursor over the Add Calculated Column icon in the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
  2. Select Average from the menu.
  3. Complete the information for the Add Average Column page:
      Column Information
      • Enter a Column name. A required field, Column Name is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field will only display the first 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Grade Center Display Name. This appears as the column header in the Grade Center. This field displays 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Description if necessary.
      • Select a Primary Display option from the drop-down menu. The grade will be displayed in this format both in the Grade Center and students’ My Grades.
      • Select a Secondary Display from the drop-down menu. This selection displays the secondary format for this column denoted by parentheses in the Grade Center.
      Dates
      • Select a Grading Period from the drop-down menu if you created one before.
      Select Columns
      • Select the items to be included in the Average column. Possible selections include the following:
        • All Grade Columns – choose this option to include all gradable columns in the calculation.
        • All Grade Columns in Grading Period – this option is available only if you created a grading period before.
        • Selected Grade Columns, Calculated Columns and Categories – choose this option to select individual gradable items in the list.  Click on the arrow to move the selected items into the Selected Columns box. You can select multiple columns and categories.
      • When a category has been selected, several other options appear:
        • Select a Grading Period for the category using the drop-down menu. This will only appear if you created a Grading Period before. Only columns within the selected Grading Period will be included in the calculation.
        • Select how to weight columns within the category: Equally or Proportionally. Choosing Equally applies equal value to all columns within a category. Choosing Proportionally applies the appropriate value to a grade item based on its points compared to other columns in the category.
        • If you decide to drop high/low grades within the category, select this option and type the number of grades to drop.
        • If you decide to use only the highest/lowest grade in the category, select this option and select whether it should be highest or lowest.
        • To remove a selected item from consideration, click the red “x”.
      • Calculate as a running total – Select Yes to include in the calculation only the columns that have been graded.
      Options
      • Include this column in Grade Center calculations – Select NO to exclude this Calculated column from other Grade Center calculations.
      • Show this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display the column in students’ My Grades.
      • Show Statistics (average and median) for this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display class average and median in students’ My Grades.
  4. Click Submit.
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Create a Minimum/Maximum Calculated Column

A Minimum/Maximum Calculated column displays either the minimum or maximum grade for a selection of columns, for example, a maximum grade on quizzes taken during the 1st quarter.

To Create a Minimum/Maximum Calculated Column:
  1. Move the cursor over the Add Calculated Column icon in the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
  2. Select Minimum/Maximum from the menu.
  3. Complete the information for the Add Minimum/Maximum Column page:
      Column Information
      • Enter a Column name. A required field, Column Name is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field will only display the first 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Grade Center Display Name. This appears as the column header in the Grade Center. This field displays 15 characters in the column header.
      • Enter a Description if necessary.
      • Select a Primary Display option from the drop-down menu. The grade will be displayed in this format both in the Grade Center and students’ My Grades.
      • Select a Secondary Display from the drop-down menu. This selection displays the secondary format for this column denoted by parentheses in the Grade Center.
      Dates
      • Select a Grading Period from the drop-down menu if you created one before.
      Select Columns

      • Calculation Type – select either Minimum or Maximum.
      • Select the items to be included in the Minimum/Maximum column. Possible selections include the following:
        • All Grade Columns – choose this option to include all gradable columns in the calculation.
        • All Grade Columns in Grading Period – this option is available only if you created a grading period before.
        • Selected Grade Columns, Calculated Columns and Categories – choose this option to select individual gradable items in the list.  Click on the arrow to move the selected items into the Selected Columns box. You can select multiple columns and categories.
        • To remove a selected item from consideration, click the red “x”.
      • Calculate as a running total – Select Yes to include in the calculation only the columns that have been graded.
      Options
      • Include this column in Grade Center calculations – Select NO to exclude this Calculated column from other Grade Center calculations.
      • Show this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display the column in students’ My Grades.
      • Show Statistics (average and median) for this column in My Grades – Select Yes to display class average and median in students’ My Grades.
  4. Click Submit.
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