Gradebook Setup with Grading Categories (Weighted)

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Table of Contents

Overview

Within the Moodle gradebook, you can set which aggregation is best for you based on how you’ve designed your course. You are able to set an aggregation at the course level and the grade category level. This guide explains how to apply the weighted mean of grades aggregation at the course level and the natural aggregation at the grade category level.

The weighted mean of grades aggregation method calculates the average of all grade items in a grade category (the sum of all grades divided by the number of grade items). You can set the weight of each grade category based on how you’ve designed your course, which is then used in the arithmetic mean aggregation to influence the importance of each item in the overall mean.

Applying the natural aggregation method for each grade category allows you to mark grade items as extra credit and allows you to drop the lowest grade item when specific criteria are met.

Videos will assist you with the gradebook process and demonstrate how to add categorized to the gradebook for assessment organization and/or category weighting.

Example

If you’ve designed your course in a similar way compared to the example below where each graded category has a corresponding weight, then the weighted mean of grades aggregation set at the course level in the Moodle gradebook would be the appropriate option.

Instructions

The steps below will use the example above to setup the gradebook using the weighted mean of grades aggregation at the course level and the natural aggregation at the grade category level.

Step 1: Set Aggregation

  1. Start on your course page
  2. Select the Grades link at the top of the page under the course title.
  3. Select  Gradebook Setup from the menu in the top  left area of the page (it reads Grader report by default)
  4. Select Edit next to the name of the course
  5. Select Edit settings from the dropdown menu on the right in the Actions column
  6. Next to Aggregation in the Grade category, choose Weighted mean of grades from the dropdown menu
  7. Scroll down and select Save changes

Step 2: Create Grade Categories

  1. Start on your course page
  2. Select the Grades link at the top of the page under the course title.
  3. Select  Gradebook Setup from the menu in the top  left area of the page (it reads Grader report by default)
  4. Select the Add category button at the top of the page
  5. Enter a name in the Category name field
  6. Next to Aggregation, choose Natural from the dropdown menu
  7. Scroll down and select Save changes
  8. Repeat to create all grade categories (e.g. tests, discussions, assignment, projects…)

Step 3: Set Weight for Each Grade Category

  1. Start on your course page
  2. Select the Grades link at the top of the page under the course title
  3. Select  Gradebook Setup from the menu in the top  left area of the page (it reads Grader report by default)
  4. Ensure all grade categories are created
  5. Enter the weight for a category by inputting the number (example: 20% = 20.0) in the empty box within the row of the grade category and under the Weights column.  
  6. Important: Ensure all grade category weights add up to 100%.

Step 4: Add Graded Activities to Course

There are several Moodle activities that can be linked to the Gradebook. These include: Assignment, Attendance, Checklist, External tool (may be dependent upon the tool), Forum, H5P (some H5P activities can be graded), Lesson, Open forum, Panopto Video (if quiz is embedded), Quiz, SCORM package, and Workshop. Below you will find instructions on how to add the three most-used graded activities to the Gradebook (quiz, forum, and assignment).

Quiz

  1. Go to the course page 
  2. Select Add an activity or resource
  3. Select Quiz
  4. Next to Name, enter a name for the exam
  5. Scroll down to the Grade section
  6. Next to Grade category, select the corresponding category (ex. Quiz)
  7. Scroll down and select Save and display
  8. Click the Add question button
  9. In the box next to Maximum grade, enter the applicable point value
  10. Click Save

Forum

  1. Go to the course page
  2. Turn on the Edit mode button in the top right of the page
  3. Select Add an activity or resource
  4. Select Forum
  5. Next to Forum name, enter a name for the discussion forum
  6. Write the forum directions and prompt in the Description box.
  7. Next to Forum type, select from the dropdown menu (Click on the ? to see the descriptions. )
  8. Make other section options to complete your discussion settings
  9. Scroll down to the Whole forum grading section
  10. Next to Type, select Point from the dropdown menu
  11. In the box next to Maximum grade, enter the applicable point value
  12. Next to Grade category, select the corresponding category (ex. Discussion Forums)
  13. Scroll down and select Save and return to course

Assignment

  1. Go to the course page
  2. Turn on the Edit mode button in the top right of the page
  3. Select Add an activity or resource
  4. Next to Assignment name, enter a name for the assignment (e.g., Research Paper Draft)
  5. Add a description if desired.
  6. Include the directions in the Activity instructions textbox and upload any additional files
  7. Make other section options to complete your settings
  8. Scroll down to the Grade section
  9. Next to Type, select Point from the dropdown menu
  10. In the box next to Maximum grade, enter the applicable point value
  11. Next to Grade category, select the corresponding category (e.g., Assignments, Research Paper)
  12. Scroll down and select Save and return to course

Step 4: Add Grade Item to Gradebook (non-Moodle activities)

If you have a graded activity in your course that will not be completed in Moodle, such as an oral presentation, you can add a line in your Gradebook to record these grades.

  1. Start on your course page
  2. Select  Gradebook Setup from the menu in the top  left area of the page (it reads Grader report by default)
  3. Select the Add grade item button
  4. Next to Item name, enter a title for the grade item (e.g., Research Proposal Presentation)
  5. In the box next to Maximum grade, enter the applicable point value (Note: You may have to click the red Show more… to see this.)
  6. Next to Grade category, select the corresponding category (e.g. Assignments, Quiz…)
  7. Adjust Weight by clicking on the box before the with and then edit it.
  8. Select Save changes

Step 5: Double Check Gradebook Setup

Once you have set your overall gradebook aggregation, created your categories and set their aggregations, created your graded activities and manually added grade items (if applicable), double check that your completed gradebook matches your intended assessment plan in your syllabus.

Video:  Moodle Gradebook Tips & Pointers

Watch the video below (18:08) to see a live demo of a Gradebook setup tips and pointers.  Both natural and weighted aggregation are demoed.

Select the play button to watch the video.  Select the CC for the Closed Captioning and the diagonal arrow to maximize the video and access the video transcript by clicking on the Captions link on the left menu.

 

Video: Adding Gradebook Categories

Watch the video below (5:18) to see a demonstration of Adding Grade Categories to the Gradebook.

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