Creating Calculated Total Columns in the Grade Center

Note: This article is about creating columns in the Grade Center in Scholar's Original view courses. for the Gradebook in Ultra courses, refer to the documentation here. 

Calculated Columns can be used to take previous grades in the grade center, 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 grade center and select the 'Create Calculated Column' dropdown.  

You will be given four possible types of calculated column to choose from: Average, Min/Max, Total, and Weighted Total. 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

The Average column takes selected columns or categories of columns, and calculates their average value, giving each column equal weight. The settings provided will 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 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 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. 

This process is similar for categories: select the desired category, then click the arrow button to move it into the Selected Columns box and provide a weight. However, for categories, you also have additional options, such as whether the items within that category are weighted equally or in proportion to their point value, or whether the column drops a highest or lowest grade. You can also choose to only use the highest or lowest value within that category. 

 
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.