Calculating a grade for placement purposes based on three exams

[jsnow-bowdoin]

Hi All,

I'm administering placement exams for incoming students. One of the departments would like to determine their students' placements on a combination of three exams. 

Part A, Part B, and Part C (each part is worth 30 points).

Here are the scenarios for placement.

If A+B is less than 30, placement in XX1093.
If A+B is greater than or equal to 60, AND if C is greater than or equal to 18, placement in XX1140.
Otherwise placement in XX1130.

I created an assignment group. Is it possible for the assignment group to display points rather than a percentage?

Does anybody have other ideas how to use the Canvas gradebook to determine the placements?

Thank you!

[Gabriel33 · Accepted solution]

I am sorry, but I don't think it is possible to solve it fully within Canvas' assignment groups and gradebook in the user interface.

If the exams are done on paper and then the grades are uploaded to Canvas, I'd recommend making the calculation within Excel (or your favorite spreadsheet editor) before uploading the grades.

Alternatively, you could have a script use the Canvas API to collect the grades, and then create a new gradebook column (perhaps a custom gradebook column)

[Gabriel33 · Accepted solution]

I am sorry, but I don't think it is possible to solve it fully within Canvas' assignment groups and gradebook in the user interface.

If the exams are done on paper and then the grades are uploaded to Canvas, I'd recommend making the calculation within Excel (or your favorite spreadsheet editor) before uploading the grades.

Alternatively, you could have a script use the Canvas API to collect the grades, and then create a new gradebook column (perhaps a custom gradebook column)

[jsnow-bowdoin]

Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to respond and your suggestions. 

[dbrace · Accepted solution]

Hi @jsnow-bowdoin,

I only have limited experience with them but have you considered using modules and Mastery Paths?  Mastery Paths are used for diffentiated learning, which seems to be similar to what you are trying to accomplish (although you are doing it for placement testing and not for learning).

Below are some resources that you might find helpful:

• What are Mastery Paths? - Instructure Community - 404483
• blog article from Instructure: A Quick Guide to Creating Mastery Paths
• video overview: Mastery Paths (Instructors) - Instructure Community - 384188
•  "Modules" section of the Canvas Instructor Guide, which contains guides related to "Mastery Paths" are the bottom of the list:  Instructor Guide - Instructure Community
• from Texas A&M University: Mastery Paths - Learning Management System
• another question asked in the Community back in December 2024:  Solved: Inquiry on Mastery Path sequences for Assessment - Instructure Community - 628549

-Doug

[jsnow-bowdoin]

Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to respond and your suggestions. 

[Gabriel33]

Mastery Paths don't seem to help with the "A+B" component, as they can only be applied to specific assignments.

If the requirements were all based on specific assignments, for example, that A>30, B>30 and then C>18, then Mastery Paths seems to help.

If someone managed to use Mastery Paths for the sum of two different assignments, please post here, as I couldn't find a way to do that.