[ARCHIVED] Weighted column in gradebook?

[mschubert]

How do I set up a weighted column in gradebook. I have approx. 10 assignments and they are all worth a certain percentage of the overall grade, therefore I would like a column that automatically calculates the overall grade. Blackboard has this ability, how do I construct it in canvas?

[kmeeusen · Accepted solution]

Good morning,  @mschubert  

In Canvas you weight assignments using Assignment Groups. You can learn more at How do I add an assignment group in a course?  and at How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups? 

There is much more that can be done with Assignment Groups, so I would also suggest looking through the Assignment chapter of the Instructor Guide.

Kelley

[PaulaKing]

All of the assignments are grouped and weighted properly. ... this is all making sense mostly, but the "Total" column in the grade book leaves me with the question ... is the weighted average seen or displayed in the "Total" column? Total means something different to me. 

[nwilson7]

@PaulaKing The total is the students points/percent calculated off the weights.  It is not really an average as it is taking into account the weights you used.  The assignment group columns give students a better idea of how they received the grade they did, basically to help answer the "how did I get that grade when I had 90% in homework" and remind them of your course weights. 

For example:

• Homework = 40%
• Test/Quizzes = 20%
• Presentations = 20%
• Discussions = 20%  

The total then is applying those weights to the score each student had in those categories and calculating their grade.  Each category is showing the exact score and at the top tells the student what percent that category counts for.  Using my example, if the student has 90/100 points in homework it would show that but then apply the 40% when it calculates the total.

Hope this helps!

-Nick

[PaulaKing]

Hi Nick,

Thank you. Coming from Bb Learn to Canvas.

Yes, it helps. Agree. I like the view of the weighted columns ( assignment grouping ).

So, I believe you confirmed that the TOTAL column is the result of the weighting of all assignment groups to show a live average of current scores (or what I call the running average of all completed assessments).

This is an important column then.

Kindest regards,

Paula

[Ron_Bowman]

@PaulaKing -

What @nwilson7 told you is correct as you have figured out.  One thing to keep in mind is that the total grade that the students see is calculated from the active assignment groups.

i.e. if there are 3 groups worth 20%, 30% and 50%, but there are only assignments (so far) in the 20% and the 50% assignment group, then the grade showing will be based on those 2 groups only - that can lead to some confusion for students as one of the groups has a higher impact initially then what it will at the end