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Calculated Columns can be used to take previous grades in the grade centergradebook, as shown in individual-item columns, and aggregate them in order to calculate a final grade total based on specific criteria. Using a Calculated Column can save an instructor considerable work in calculating overall grades throughout the semester, and provide a student with a quick snapshot of their progress. To create a calculated column, navigate to the Gradebook. If you have not already done so, the grade center and select the 'Create Calculated Column' dropdown. 
bottom of the gradebook will have a specialized button prompting you to set up an overall grade. 
You will be given four possible types of calculated column three options to choose from: Average, Min/Max, TotalPoints, Weighted, and Weighted TotalAdvanced. Select the type you wish to create to enter into the column details . The first few fields are common for all four types: You will be required to give the column a name, and given the option to give a secondary Grade Center Name and description of the column's contents. You will also be able to choose how the grade is displayed; the default primary display will show the grade in this column as a percentage, with no secondary display selected.
After these fields, the columns will provide a set of custom fields based on the type of calculation being performed within the column.
Average
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You will also be able to select whether the average is calculated as a running total, meaning only columns that have grades entered into them are included. If this is changed, all columns will be included at the beginning of the semester, with blank columns counting as a value of 0. This is not recommended, as it may not provide an accurate picture of a students grade throughout the semester.
Min/Max
The Minimum/Maximum value column simply takes either the largest or smallest single value out of a group of columns or categories of columns, and displays that. The settings provided will allow you to select whether the minimum or maximum grade from a set of columns. It will also allow you to select whether all previous grades are used in the calculation, or only selected values. If "Selected Columns and Categories" is selected, you will be given a field that allows you to choose which existing columns are used. You can select either individual columns, or entire categories of grades such as Assignments or Tests. The Knowledge Base provides additional information on how to set up and add categories to grade values. To select a value or category, click on it to highlight it, then click the associated arrow button to move it over into the Selected Columns box.
You will also be able to select whether the minimum or maximum is selected from a running total, meaning only columns that have grades entered into them are included. If this is changed, all columns will be included at the beginning of the semester, with blank columns counting as a value of 0. This is not recommended, as it may not provide an accurate picture of a students grade throughout the semester.
Total Column
The Total column adds together the values of a set of columns or categories of columns, and displays the total without applying weights. The settings provided will allow you to select whether all previous grades are added together, or only selected values. If "Selected Columns and Categories" is selected, you will be given a field that allows you to choose which existing columns are used in the calculation. You can select either individual columns, or entire categories of grades such as Assignments or Tests. The Knowledge Base provides additional information on how to set up and add categories to grade values. To select a value or category, click on it to highlight it, then click the associated arrow button to move it over into the Selected Columns box.
You will also be able to select whether the total is calculated as a running total, meaning only columns that have grades entered into them are included. If this is changed, all columns will be included at the beginning of the semester, with blank columns counting as a value of 0. This is not recommended, as it may not provide an accurate picture of a students grade throughout the semester, although in this case its impact is not as great as in the Average or Weighted Total columns.
Weighted Total
A weighted total column allows you to create a weighted average, allocating a specific percentage of the final grade's weight either to an individual item, such as an assignment or test, or to a category. To assign a weight to an individual item, select it in the Columns to Select box, then click the arrow button to move it into the Selected Columns box. You can then provide the appropriate weight as a percentage of the final total.
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You will also be able to select whether the weighted average is calculated as a running total, meaning only columns that have grades entered into them are included. If this is changed, all columns will be included at the beginning of the semester, with blank columns counting as a value of 0. This is not recommended, as it may not provide an accurate picture of a students grade throughout the semester.
Final Options
Every Calculated Column option concludes with a set of final options, which allow you to make some choices on how the column is viewed both in the Grade center, and in the students' My Grades section. These include whether the column is included in Grade Center calculations (This setting is recommended), as well as whether the student can view the column in their own grades. The last setting will turn on the calculation of key statistics for this grade, such as class average and median, and show these calculations to the student. This final setting is not recommended in smaller classes, as it may inadvertently provide students with information about the grades of other students in the class.
Once you select the needed settings, click 'Submit' at the bottom of the page. The new column will be created, and visible on the far-right-hand side of the Grade Center. and click Next. Please note that this decision is not permanent, and can be changed on the following window.
You will be brought to a window where you can set up your calculations.
Points
The Points option shows a list of all the content categories available in Ultra Courses (Ex. Tests, Assignments, etc.), as well as the total point values present in that category at the time this calculation is being created. From this list you can remove categories from the calculation by using the Exclude button, or Expand the category to remove or unlink specific items within that category.
Each category also provides a button labeled "Edit Calculation Rules". Clicking this opens a sidebar that provides options to customize how that particular category is calculated, such as dropping scores that meet a specific calculation or only including specific scores. If you edit the calculation rules in this sidebar, click 'Continue' at the bottom to ensure your new settings are saved.
On the left-hand side of the window you can select settings to determine how the grade being calculated is displayed to students. It is recommended that the first checkmark in this space remain checked; this setting determines that the score being presented is part of a RUNNING calculation, and does not include items that have not been graded yet as a 0.
When you have finished creating your calculations, click "Save" to save your new calculation to your Gradebook.
Weighted Points
The Weighted Points option is structurally identical to the Points option, with one major exception: Instead of displaying the total number of points assigned in each category, Weighted Provides each category with a percent weight, and defaults to giving each category an equal weight. This field is editable, with some constraints:
1. Editing one weight will automatically alter the weights in any of the weight fields that have not also been edited. This is intended to ensure that the total weights add up to 100%.
2. Editing a weight will lock it, which prevents it from being automatically being altered again when you edit other weights. This is reversible by clicking the lock icon next to the weight field.
Advanced
The Advanced calculation space is more complex than the Points or Weighted calculation, in that it allows you to create a custom calculation for your Grade center. To do so, you can drag and drop either categories or individual grade items into the space given, as well functions such as Totals or Averages, or operators like Add or Subtract. To create a calculation, drag a function into the space, then use the dropdown for that space to select the category or individual item that function applies to. You can then chain these functions together using the operators.
(Note: This particular calculation space is also accessible after you have already created an overall grade, meaning you can use it to create a gradebook with multiple calculations. This space can be reached from the main gradebook using the Add Item button, then selecting "Add Calculation" from the resulting dropdown.)
Regardless of which calculation you select, click 'Save' at the bottom of the page when you have finished customizing your settings. The new external grade will be created, and visible on the top of the Gradebook.
