Before reading this tutorial, you should have a Moodle course or practice site and be familiar with:

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1 Oklahma Department f CareerTech 6: GRADEBOOK BASICS WELCOME TO THE MOODLE GRADEBOOK BASICS TUTORIAL! In this tutrial, yu will learn: Hw t cnfigure the nline gradebk in a simple fashin Hw t manually add graded items t the gradebk If yu have nt used ne f CareerTech s Hw t Mdle tutrials befre, view the instructins fr using it as a self-paced tutrial r as a resurce fr classrm instructin. Befre reading this tutrial, yu shuld have a Mdle curse r practice site and be familiar with: Setting up a curse in Mdle Adding quizzes and activities t yur curse NOTE: This tutrial was purpsely kept simple. When learning t use any technlgy, a new user can easily feel verwhelmed. A Mdle LMS cmes laded with advanced functinality, but instructrs must first feel cnfident using the basic features. After establishing a knwledge base, instructrs can easily search t find infrmatin abut a specific change t implement. MENU OF TUTORIAL TOPICS Intrductin Planning t Use the Gradebk Creating a Grading Plan Chsing an Aggregatin Methd Opening the Mdle Gradebk and Selecting Main Curse Aggregatin Creating Categries in the Gradebk Creating Curse Activities Creating Manually Graded Items Assigning weights fr items in weighted aggregatin methds Summary and Resurces Oklahma Department f Career and Technlgy Educatin Updated 7/11/2018, Mdle v3.4

2 INTRODUCTION Setting up the nline gradebk frm the start can prevent avidable prblems frm ccurring while the curse is underway. As yu wrk with the Mdle gradebk keep in mind these cmmnly used terms: Grader reprt This is generally referred t as the gradebk. The first tab shws all the students enrlled in yur curse, all the graded items, and the grades. Grade items A grade item is each gradable curse activity, such as a quiz r an assignment. Yu can mdify the settings f each item t determine hw it is graded. Grades Grades are scres earned by students n an activity r graded item. Yu can mdify grade settings t change hw grades are displayed t users, including lcking and hiding functins. Grade categries A grade categry grups grade items tgether. Yu can set the aggregatin and the way graded items display. PLANNING TO USE THE GRADEBOOK Befre yu pen the gradebk in Mdle, plan what yu re ging t d. Fcus n key strategies fr success when wrking with the Mdle gradebk, including: Organizatin Organize the graded items in yur curse t make it easier t manage graded activities and calculate final grades fr yur students. This means creating grade categries in yur gradebk. Fr example, if yu place all quizzes in a categry called Quiz, yu can d what yu want t the ttal quiz scre withut affecting grades fr ther activities. Yu cannt d that withut using categries. Grade calculatin In Mdle, aggregatin refers t grade calculatin. There are many ways t assign and aggregate grades. Sme grades setting are determined at the activity level, sme at the categry level, and sme at the curse level. Yu als can decide whether t give extra credit, t grade using peer evaluatin, and t use letter grades r scales, either fr a particular categry r fr the curse ttal. Appearance Yu can set up yur curse t let students see their grades as they cmplete activities, r yu can decide t hide grades until a certain pint. Yu can als set up grade reprts the way yu want t see them. 2

3 The fllwing utlines a prcess t implement these strategies fr success: Befre the curse starts: 1. Outline a grading plan f yur curse activities and pint values r scales based n yur syllabus 2. Execute the grading plan in the Mdle gradebk: a) Chse curse aggregatin b) Create categries Assign aggregatin methds fr individual categries c) Create curse activities d) Create manual grade items During the curse: Assign grades Review grades Cnfirm r adjust grades Shw/hide view f grades At the end f curse: Review grades Cnfirm r adjust grades Reprt final grades Backup and archive a cpy f yur curse grades and keep the file in a safe place Unenrll students, s that yu can start fresh fr the next class CREATING A GRADING PLAN Use yur syllabus t utline a grading plan f yur curse activities and pint values r scales. Create an utline similar t the fllwing example, which prvides the infrmatin yu need t define settings in Mdle. Grading Plan Activity Pints Categry Friday Quizzes 75 Quizzes Mid-term Exam 50 Exams Cnstructin Prject 75 Prjects Barn Design Wrkshp 35 Prjects Electrical Plan 15 Prjects Research Prject 50 Prjects Frum 75 Participatin Attendance 75 Participatin Final Exam 100 Exams TOTAL % = A 80-89% = B 70-79% = C 60-69% = D 0-59% = F 3

4 CHOOSING AN AGGREGATION METHOD The term aggregatin methd refers t hw Mdle calculates student grades. Each categry in yur Mdle gradebk has an aggregatin methd setting. Best practices include chsing nly ne r tw aggregatin methd and sticking with them thrughut yur curse. Set up a grading system that aligns with yur syllabus and verall gals fr the curse. This tutrial describes Mdle s three mst cmmnly used aggregatin methds Simple Weighted Mean f Grades, Weighted Mean f Grades, and Natural aggregatin. Simple Weighted Mean f Grades Why use Simple Weighted Mean f Grades? Use this chice when yu want grades t have weighted input t the categry ttal based n the amunt f pints the activity is wrth. This wrks best fr the instructr wh sets all activities t be wrth different pint values, but wants an average fr the categry r curse ttal. The Simple Weighted Mean f Grades aggregatin methd autmatically gives grades with a higher maximum ttal a higher weight. Hw t use Simple Weighted Mean f Grades Use this methd when the graded items wrth the mst pints are the mst imprtant t the verall grade. If yu want cntrl ver the weighting f each activity r graded item, cnsider using the Weighted Mean f Grades aggregatin instead. Hw grades are calculated Fr each activity, the pints earned are divided by the pints pssible, and then multiplied by the activity s maximum grade minus the minimum grade. The ttals fr the activities are added tgether and divided by the ttal number f pints pssible at that given time. If the minimum pints pssible is zer, the result will be the same as Natural aggregatin. Hwever, the Natural aggreagatin methd has limitatins that will make Simple Weighted Mean the better chice in mst cases. Example f Simple Weighted Mean f Grades This example uses three activities. Activity A is wrth 0-10 pints Activity B is wrth pints Activity C is wrth 0-50 pints Using the Simple Weighted Mean f Grades, the grade a student earns n Activity B will carry the mst weight because it has the highest maximum pints pssible. 4

5 Fr a specific student wh earns these grades fr the three activities: Activity A 10 pints earned ut f 10 pssible Activity B 90 pints earned ut f 100 pssible Activity C 44 pints earned ut f 50 pssible This student s grade will be calculated as: [ (10/10 x 10) + (90/100 x 100) + (44/50 x 50) ] / 160 = 90% NOTE: D nt change the curse and categry ttals in the Mdle gradebk. Leave them at Weighted Mean f Grades Why use Weighted Mean f Grades? Use this methd when creating multiple categries r activities that need t have different weights in relatin t the ttal grade. This methd allws yu t custmize the weight given t each categry and/r activity, regardless f the pint value given t the activity. Hw t use Weighted Mean f Grades If yu want yur curse t have categries with specific weights, set yur main curse aggregatin t Weighted Mean f Grades. The categries within yur gradebk will have a weight bx where yu type in the weight fr each categry. Make sure yur weights are distributed apprpriately, and equal up t 100% ttal. Weighted Mean f Grades can be used fr bth verall curse aggregatin and individual categries. Keep the curse ttal and each categry ttal as Hw grades are calculated Fr each activity, the pints earned are divided by the pints pssible, and then multiplied by the desired weight f the activity, expressed as a percentage. The resulting values fr each activity are added tgether t find the final grade. Example f Weighted Mean f Grades This example uses fur categries with multiple assignments within each categry. In this example, the instructr wuld like class assignments t carry the mst weight, s assigns the fllwing weights t each categry. Categry 1 Assignments = 50% Categry 2 Attendance = 10% Categry 3 Unit Exams = 30% Categry 4 Semester Exam = 10% 5

6 If the student receives the fllwing verall grades within each categry, his r her grade will be calculated as: Categry 1 Assignments = 100% Categry 2 Attendance = 100% Categry 3 Unit Exams = 50% Categry 4 Semester Exam = 50% (100/100 x 50%) + (100/100 x 10%) + (50/100 x 30%) + (50/100 x 10%) = 80% Since the assignment categry carried the mst weight, the student still has a passing grade even thugh the student did nt perfrm well n the unit exams and the semester test. If all the grade items within a categry are f equal weight, yu can use Simple Weighted Mean f Grades within each categry with the verall curse aggregatin as Weighted Mean f Grades. It is nt recmmended t use mre than tw aggregatins. Keep the gradebk simple. The fllwing utlines an example f a gradebk: Curse Aggregatin: Weighted Mean f Grades Categry 1: Simple Weighted Mean f Grades Weight: 50 % Categry ttal: Grade item 1: 100 pints Grade item 2: 50 pints Grade item 3: 25 pints Grade item 4: 10 pints Categry 2: Simple Weighted Mean f Grades Weight: 20% Categry ttal: Grade item 1: 20 pints Grade item 2: 50 pints Grade item 3: 25 pints Categry 3: Simple Weighted Mean f Grades Weight: 30% Categry ttal: Grade item 1: 100 pints Grade item 2: 50 pints Grade item 3: 25 pints Grade item 4: 10 pints Ntice the weights entered equal 100%. 6

7 NOTE: Since the main curse aggregatin is Weighted Means f Grades, if a student des nt perfrm well n an activity with the greatest weight, the resulting final grade will be lwer than a curse with the main aggregatin set as Simple Weighted Mean f Grades. Natural Aggregatin Why use Natural aggregatin? Teachers wh give an arbitrary number f pints t all assignments and want a simple ttal f pints as the final grade shuld use this methd. Hw t use Natural aggregatin There is n extra step required fr this aggregatin methd, but there are sme limitatins. Sme gradebk functinalities d nt wrk when yu use the Natural aggregatin methd: Scales will nt be used in calculating ttals. Yu can use them in yur curse, but they will nt be included prperly in calculating a curse r categry ttal. The Aggregate nly nn-empty grades feature will nt wrk. This means if Activities A and B are cmpleted, but Activity C is still underway and des nt have a grade, the calculatin that shws will be errneusly lw. Hw grades are calculated Natural aggregatin adds tgether all pint values earned and then divides by the ttal pssible pints. The ttal is shwn as a pint value, r can be adjusted t display as a percentage. Example f Natural aggregatin Again using the same three activities: Activity A is wrth pints Activity B is wrth 0-50 pints Activity C is wrth 0-50 pints And the same student wh earns these grades fr the three activities: Activity A 95 pints earned ut f 100 pssible Activity B 50 pints earned ut f 50 pssible Activity C 45 pints earned ut f 50 pssible This student s grade will be calculated as: ( ) / 200 = 95% 7

8 OPENING THE MOODLE GRADEBOOK AND SELECTING MAIN COURSE AGGREGATION Nw that yu have a plan, use the fllwing steps t access the gradebk in Mdle and set yur main curse aggregatin: Step Actin Ntes 1. Frm the curse page, click n the Curse Management buttn in the upper left. Under the User Links heading, click Grades verview. 2. T set yur main curse aggregatin, click n the Setup tab. 3. In the Actins clumn next t yur curse name, click the Edit drpdwn menu, and then click Edit settings. This will pen the Grader reprt. By default, the display shws the View tab. Other displays and functinality are available by clicking ther tabs and settings n the page. The Gradebk setup page will display. Click edit settings. Next t yur curse name, select the desired curse aggregatin frm the drpdwn menu. On the Gradebk setup page, leave the Curse ttal at If yu chse Weighted Means, yu will add weights nce yu create yur grade items r categries. CREATING CATEGORIES IN THE GRADEBOOK Categries can be used t rganize the gradebk in many different ways and fr many different purpses. In sme instances, categries are required fr cnfiguring the gradebk fr specific uses. Cmmn ways t divide the gradebk int categries include: Activity type This is almst always the categrizatin type used with a weighted gradebk. It allws yu t grup all like activity types tgether in ne categry with ne aggregatin methd. Fr example, yu culd create a quiz categry fr all f yur quizzes. Time Yu may want t grup yur class activities tgether accrding t the term in which they ccur. Fr example, yu culd create tw categries named Semester 1 and Semester 2. Grade status This methd grups activities by thse that have been graded and thse that are nt yet graded. This divisin helps students see an accurate grade at any given time, althugh it is nt the nly way t achieve this. 8

9 When starting ut with the gradebk in a curse, the nly categry will be the curse categry, which is cnsidered the parent categry f any new categries yu create. Yu culd ptentially add subcategries, where yu wuld need t assign ne f yur new categries as a parent. Hwever, this is nly recmmended fr thse wh are experienced with the gradebk and hw it functins. Cnsideratins: When it cmes t aggregatins and using the gradebk, cnsider the fllwing: Start simple and slwly add in new functinality as yu learn. Chse an aggregatin that yu understand. If yu dn t understand it (and can t explain it), then yur students wn t either. If yu want t use extra credit, chse the aggregatin methds that wrk best with it (Simple Weighted Mean f Grades and Natural aggregatin). When yu want t try smething new, research nline using resurces such as Mdle Dcs r YuTube. T add a categry t the gradebk, use the fllwing steps: Step Actin Ntes 1. Frm the curse page, click n the Curse Management buttn. Under User Links, click Grades verview. This will pen the Grader reprt. By default, the display shws the View tab. Other displays and functinality are available by clicking ther tabs and settings n the page. 2. Click n the Setup tab. At the bttm f the page, click the Add categry buttn. The page includes tw sectins Grade categry and Categry ttal. Click the Shw mre link, which reveals additinal settings. 3. Sectin: Grade categry Field: Categry name Enter a name fr yur categry. 4. Sectin: Grade categry Field: Aggregatin Select the desired aggregatin methd fr this categry ttal. This will pen a page with settings t add a new categry t the gradebk. This page allws yu t add a categry using primarily default settings, r t custmize the settings in mre detail. Give the categry the name yu want it t display, such as Quizzes, Semester 1, Unit 1, etc. This field determines hw grades in a categry are cmbined t calculate the ttal fr the categry. If yu intend t have weights fr the categries, select Weighted Mean. If yu want an average f the grade items in the categry, select Simple Weighted Mean. 9

10 Step Actin Ntes 5. Sectin: Grade categry Field: Exclude empty grades. Check the bx t enable this functinality. If this setting is enabled, Mdle will nt use grades that dn t have a value yet when calculating the categry aggregatin. (Natural aggregatin is nt an ptin.) If nt enabled, Mdle will cunt the empty value as a minimal grade, fr example 0 fr an assignment graded between 0 and Sectin: Grade categry Field: Include utcmes in aggregatin Check the bx t enable this functinality. (Please nte this is atypical.) 7. Sectin: Grade categry Field: Drp the lwest Type in the number f the lwest grades t be drpped. Outcmes are an alternate methd f grading in Mdle that use specific descriptins f knwledge r skills a student has demnstrated at the cmpletin f an activity r curse. If yu are using utcmes in yur curse, yu may want t include them in yur aggregatin. If yu chse t enable this setting, be aware that it may have an unintended, r undesired, effect n the categry r curse ttal. This setting enables a specified number f the lwest grades t be excluded frm the aggregatin. Fr example, if the categry includes multiple assignments, yu can decide that all grades shuld be included in the calculatin (select 0, the default selectin), r yu may want t drp the lwest grade, the lwest tw grades, r mre. 10

11 Step Actin Ntes 8. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Grade type Select the desired grade type fr this categry frm the drpdwn list. (Chsing Scale in the Grade type drpdwn menu enables the Scale drpdwn menu belw, which includes five chices.) There are fur ptins: Nne N grading Value A numerical value with a maximum and minimum (typically used) Scale An item in a list. If yu chse scale, yu will then be able t chse the scale yu want aligned t this categry. Text Feedback nly Only Value and Scale grade types may be aggregated. Certain fields in this sectin will be deactivated r activated, depending n the selectin fr the Grade type ptin. Remember, this selectin is the grade type fr the categry. The grade type fr any activity-based grade items within the categry is set n the activity settings page. 9. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Maximum grade Enter a value fr the maximum grade value fr this categry. 10. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Minimum grade Enter a value fr the minimum grade value fr this categry. 11. Sectin: Categry Ttal Field: Grade t pass Enter a value that must be achieved fr a passing grade in this categry. 12. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Grade display type Select the desired display type fr this categry frm the drpdwn list. Changes are nt recmmended. This setting determines the maximum grade when using the value grade type. The default setting is 100 and, in mst situatins, there is n real reasn t change. Changes are nt recmmended. This setting determines the minimum grade when using the value grade type. This setting determines the minimum grade required t pass. The value is used in activity and curse cmpletin and in the gradebk, where pass grades are highlighted in green and fail grades in red. This setting determines hw grades are displayed in the grader and user reprts. There are multiple ptins available. Real grades are numerical Percentages shw percentage Letter grades use letters r wrds t represent a range 11

12 Step Actin Ntes 13. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Overall decimal pints Select the desired display f decimal pints fr this categry frm the drpdwn list. This setting determines the number f decimal pints t display fr each grade. It has n effect n grade calculatins, which are made with an accuracy f five decimal places. 14. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Hidden, Hidden until Check the bx t enable this functinality. Yu may als enter a date when the categry ttal will be displayed. 15. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Lck after Check the bx t enable this functinality. Yu may als enter a date when the categry ttal can be unlcked. 16. Sectin: Categry ttal Field: Weight 17. Click the Save changes buttn at the bttm f the page. If Hidden is checked, grades are hidden frm students. A Hidden until date may be set, if desired, t release grades after grading is cmpleted. Yu must check the Enable bx assciated with the date fields t activate the date fields. If Lcked is checked, grades will n lnger autmatically update based n the related activity. Lcking prevents the ability t change grades, and it disables quick grading and quick feedback in the Grader reprt. This determines the relative value f multiple grade items in a categry r curse. The Setup tab f the Grader reprt displays with the new categry. Repeat steps 1 thrugh 16 abve t create additinal categries. CREATING COURSE ACTIVITIES After creating categries in the gradebk, yu will be able t assign the prper grade categry t each activity during set up. When yu add graded activities (such as quizzes, assignments, lessn activities, etc.) t yur curse, they are autmatically tied t yur Mdle gradebk. The set up fr each activity is different. Sme activities are designed t allw grading, and sme use ratings as a ptential grading methd. Other activities d nt have a built-in grading system, but can be graded if desired by adding a manual grade item in the gradebk. 12

13 CREATING MANUALLY GRADED ITEMS Graded activities that are nt autmatically added t the Gradebk can be added manually. Cmmn manual grade items culd include attendance, prjects nt using the assignment activity, r a written final exam. T manually grade items, use the fllwing steps: Step Actin Ntes 1. Frm the curse page, click n the Curse Management buttn. Under the User Links heading, click Grades verview. This will pen the Grader reprt. By default, the display displays the View tab. Other displays and functinality are available via tabs and settings n the page. 2. On the Grader reprt page, click the Setup tab. 3. At the bttm f the page, click the Add grade item buttn. 4. In the Item name field, type in the name fr the grade item. 5. Select the desired Grade type frm the drpdwn field. 6. If yu chse the Scale field, select the desired scale list. This will display the Gradebk setup page. This will pen a page with settings t add an item t the gradebk. Fr example, type Attendance. Fr a manually added grade item, there are 4 grade types available: Value The grade is a numerical value with a minimum and maximum, such as Scale The grade is an item frm a list, as selected in the Scale field n this page. Text Feedback is prvided, but n grade is given. Mdle will include value and scale grade types in the grade aggregatin. This field will nly be active if Scale was selected fr the Grade type. There are five ptins: Use n scale Separate and Cnnected ways f knwing Deficiente/Regular/Excelente Default cmpetence scale Unsatisfactry, Satisfactry Access the setting fr the varius scale types by clicking the Scales tab. 13

14 Step Actin Ntes 7. Fr the Maximum grade field, enter the maximum number f pints that can be given fr this graded item. This field will nly be active if Value was selected fr the Grade type. 8. Fr the Minimum grade field, enter the minimum number f pints that can be given fr this graded item. 9. Click the Hidden checkbx if yu want the grade fr this item t be hidden frm the student. This field will nly be active if Value was selected fr the Grade type. The default is t allw students t view all grades. Yu may als add a Hidden until date if yu wuld like t release grades nly after grading is cmpleted. The date fields are accessed by clicking the Shw mre link at the end f the list f settings. 10. If yu want t prevent autmatic updating by the related activity, click the Lcked checkbx. 11. If yu want t prevent the weight frm being autmatically adjusted, click the Weight adjusted bx. Checking this bx allws yu t type a number in the Weight field. This figure determines the relative value f multiple grade items in a categry r curse. 12. Click Save changes. The new item is saved. The display returns t Gradebk setup page, where the new item has been added t the table f graded items. ASSIGNING WEIGHTS FOR ITEMS IN WEIGHTED AGGREGATION METHODS After yu have ppulated the gradebk with categries r grade items, yu can assign the desired weight fr each. In the Setup tab in the gradebk, any item that belngs t a categry using a weighted aggregatin methd will shw a field available under a clumn called Weight. Enter the weights frm yur grading plan fr each f these activities r categries in the gradebk. 14

15 In this example, the curse grade is cmprised f nly eight grade items. Each item has been assigned a particular weight. Gradebk Categry Weight Prjects 40 Participatin 20 Exams 40 NOTE: Weights shuld ttal 100 percent. SUMMARY AND RESOURCES This tutrial described a basic use f the Mdle gradebk. The gradebk has many ther ptins t help yu track and award student achievement. As yu becme familiar with using the gradebk, yu shuld explre thse ptins that align with the way yu prefer t manage yur curses. This series includes ther guides fr using the Mdle gradebk and grading activities. Fr mre infrmatin, see: Using the Gradebk Advanced Gradebk Optins Mdle Activity Grading VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Watch the fllwing vide series t see demnstratins fr hw t cnfigure the Mdle gradebk. Gradebk (verview): Part 1, Basic Gradebk: Part 2, Natural Gradebk: Setting up Attendance: NOTE: Vide demnstratins were nt created by Oklahma CareerTech, and they may use a different versin f Mdle. Hwever, the steps are the same as the nes yu will use. 15

16 HOW TO USE THIS TUTORIAL: This tutrial can be used as a self-paced lessn r as a lessn plan in a classrm setting. As a self-paced lessn. If this is a cmpletely new skill fr yu, wrk thrugh the tutrial frm beginning t end. Hwever, if yu have sme prir experience with the tpic, use the menu hyperlinks n page ne t jump t a tpic that yu want t learn. Mst tpics include hyperlinks t vide demnstratins. While the vides are useful, yu dn t have t watch them. All the infrmatin that yu need is listed in the tutrial text and step instructins. Fllw the steps in the example t practice the skill. This will help t crrect any misunderstandings r mistakes befre yu use the skill in yur classrm. As a lessn-plan fr a classrm. When teaching this skill in a classrm, use the tutrial fr: Mtivatin Use the tutrial intrductin as a springbard fr a deeper explratin f hw instructrs might use this functinality in their classrms. Encurage discussin and cntributins frm yur students. Demnstratin Once yur learners understand the purpse and pedaggical value f the functinality, demnstrate the steps f the relevant tasks as listed in the tutrial, using yur cmputer and an verhead prjectr. Practice Use the tutrial example as a basis fr student practice. Assist as necessary. Reference Encurage learners t use the tutrial pst-sessin as a reference when using the functinality. Return t the tutrial main menu. We wuld appreciate feedback n this tutrial! Please cntact the General ctyou.rg Supprt staff listed under Divisin Cntacts n ctyou.rg. 16