Creating grade items

Build your grade book by creating grade items.

The grades you manually enter in your grade book for quizzes, discussions, and assignments grade items are automatically synchronized back to Quizzes, Discussions and Assignments.

Note: Quizzes grades are not synchronized when the tool is updated by the Brightspace API or when you import your grade book. Discussions and Assignments grades do synchronize when using the Brightspace API and when importing the grade book. Review Synchronizing your grade book with other tools for more information.

Create calculated grade items

You can use a calculated grade item to display a user's cumulative achievement across multiple grade items. Unlike the calculated final grade, calculated grade items do not recognize grade category settings of the grade items they evaluate, such as exclusion or distribution options. They can belong to a category but they cannot contribute to the calculated final grade. Note that you cannot associate calculated grade items with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments. Only numeric grade items can be associated with course objects.

To create calculated grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item.
Click Calculated.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
In the Grading area, do any of the following:
- If you want users' grades to be able to exceed the maximum points specified for the item, select the Can Exceed check box.
  - Note: If you enable Can Exceed after the score is passed from the Assignment tool, the score in Grades does not automatically update. You must retract the score from the assignment and republish the score.
- From the Grade Scheme drop-down list, select a grading scheme for your grade item.
- In the Grade Item to Include list, select any grade items you want to include in the calculated grade item.
- Select your calculation method (not available when using a Points grading system).
- To attach a rubric to the grade item, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, do any of the following:
- Under Student View:
  - To allow users to see the class average on the item, select the Display class average to users checkbox.
  - To allow users to see a graph showing how grades are distributed between different percentiles, select the Display grade distribution to users checkbox.
  - To allow graded users to view grade information for this item differently from other items in the grade book, select the Override display options for this item checkbox.
    - Select Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
- Under Managing View:
  - To view grade information for this item differently from other items in your grade book, select the Override display options for this item check box.
  - Select either Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
To associate a learning objective with the grade item, click the Objectives tab, and then Associate Learning Objectives.
Click Save and Close.

Create formula grade items

Use formula grade items to automatically grade users with a custom formula based on achievements in other grade items.

The following limitations apply to formula grade items:

You can only calculate the final grade with formula grade items using the Formula grading system.
Formula grade items can belong to a category, but do not have to.
You must create all grade items you want to include in the formula grade item before you create the formula item.
Formula grade items do not contribute to the calculated final grade in a points-based or weighted grade book.

D2L does not recommend creating nested formula grade items – that is a formula grade item that uses other formula grade items in its formula – as doing so may result in very long load times when recalculating the gradebook.

Note: You cannot associate formula grade items with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments. Only numeric grade items can be associated with course objects.

To create formula grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item > Formula.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
In the Grading area, enter the Maximum Points for the grade item. Then, do any of the following:
- To define the formula for your grade item, click the Edit Using the Formula Editor link. In the Formula Editor window, enter your formula and click Insert.
- If you want users' grades to be able to exceed the maximum points specified for the item, select the Can Exceed check box.
- From the Grade Scheme drop-down list, select a grading scheme for your grade item.
- To attach a rubric to the grade item, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, do any of the following:
- Under Student View:
  - To allow users to see the class average on the item, select the Display class average to users checkbox.
  - To allow users to see a graph showing how grades are distributed between different percentiles, select the Display grade distribution to users checkbox.
  - To allow graded users to view grade information for this item differently from other items in the grade book, select the Override display options for this item checkbox.
    - Select Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
- Under Managing View:
  - To view grade information for this item differently from other items in your grade book, select the Override display options for this item check box.
  - Select either Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
To associate a learning objective with the grade item, click the Objectives tab, and then Associate Learning Objectives.
Click Save and Close.

About formula grade items

Use the Formula Editor to define a formula that calculates a grade item’s value based on other grade items. When you create a formula, you specify which grade items you want included in the formula and the relationships between them. An example of a simple formula is one that calculates the sum of a number of grade items. A more complicated formula is one that drops the minimum or maximum value from a set of grade items.

Component	Description
Formula area	The formula area is where the formula text displays. The equals sign (=) at the start of the formula cannot be deleted. A cursor shows your position in the formula.
Cursor placement	Use the cursor placement icons to move the cursor forwards and backwards in the formula. You can also move the cursor by clicking on the new location with your mouse. There are four options: << - Move cursor to start of formula < - Move cursor back one element > - Move cursor forward one element >> - Move cursor to end of formula
Grade item parameters	To view what grade items you can insert as a parameter in your formula, use the Grade Item drop-down list. You can insert Numeric, Pass/Fail, Selectbox, and Formulatype grade items. You cannot reference the formula grade item you are defining or a final grade. To view the values associated with the grade item you want to use in the formula, use the Grade Item Value drop-down list. There are three options: Points Received - The grade the user achieved. For example, 7 (out of 10 points). Max Points - The maximum points available for the grade item. For example, 10 points. Percent -The percent grade the user achieved. For example, 70%. When using the weighted system, category and grade item weights are ignored in formula calculations. Dropped grade items and bonus grade items are calculated the same as other grade items.
Functions	The Function drop-down list contains a list of functions that you can use in your calculation formula: MAX - Calculates the maximum (largest) value in a set of values. MIN - Calculates the minimum (smallest) value in a set of values. SUM -Calculates the sum (total) of a set of values. AVG - Calculates the average for a set of values by adding all the values and dividing by the total number of values. IF - Operates as a Boolean statement that returns either the value set as true or as false. You must define the condition (Boolean statement), true (then) value, and false (else) value. NOT - Operates as a Boolean statement that returns the value set as true if the condition is false and as false if the condition is true. You can embed functions within functions. The Start, Next Term, and End options are used to define elements of a function: Start - Starts the function selected in the Function drop-down list with an opening bracket ({). Next Term - Inserts a comma to separate grade items or parts of a Boolean statement. End - Ends the function with a closing bracket (}).
Operators	Operators are usually used in conjunction with at least one grade item.

Formula Editor validation errors

The following are errors you might encounter while using the Formula Editor.

Error	Description	Examples
Unexpected [token_type] For example, Unexpected operator	The formula contains a function component in an unexpected location	= 5=/1 = (5+1)2
Unbalanced parentheses	The formula contains an opening or closing bracket without a corresponding bracket	= 5+1)
Missing end of function	The formula contains an unclosed function	= SUM{[Item1.Points], [Item2.Points]
Unexpected function end	The formula contains a closing bracket for a function that does not relate to a function	= [Item1.Points]/2}
Invalid number of operator parameters	The formula contains an invalid number of operator parameters	= [Item1.Points] +
Invalid number of function parameters	The formula contains an invalid number of function parameters	= SUM{} = IF{[Item1.Points]<2,5}
Numeric value expected	A Boolean statement or operator was entered in place of a numeric value	= IF{5<2,1 OR 1,4} = SUM{1 = 2,3,4}
Boolean value expected	A Boolean statement was not entered for a condition	= IF {MIN{4,5},100,0} = NOT{4}
Invalid terminal	The formula contains an incorrectly used terminal	= [Item1.Points] + 3.2.5

Create text grade items

Use text grade items to provide comments that are not counted towards users’ final grades. Text grade items can belong to a category but they do not contribute to the calculated final grade. Note that you cannot associate text grade items with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments. Only numeric grade items can be associated with course objects.

To create text grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item.
Click Text.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
To attach a rubric to the grade item, in the Grading area, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, select how you want the Managing View for the grade item to appear.
Click Save and Close.

Create select box grade items

Grade users by assigning a grade scheme level that is equivalent to a percentage grade range. You cannot create select box grade items if you do not have at least one grade scheme for the course. Note that you cannot associate calculated grade items with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments. Only numeric grade items can be associated with course objects.

To create select box grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item.
Click Selectbox.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
In the Grading area, do any of the following:
- Enter the Maximum Points.
- To allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified for the item, select the Can Exceed checkbox.
  - Note: this selection only applies to the grade item. Can Exceed may need to be selected for the grade category also. If you enable Can Exceed after the score is passed from the Assignment tool, the score in Grades does not automatically update. You must retract the score from the assignment and republish the score.
- To make the grade item a bonus, select the Bonus checkbox.
- To exclude the grade item from final grade calculation, select the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation checkbox.
- From the Grade Scheme drop-down list, select a grading scheme for your grade item.
- To attach a rubric to the grade item, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, do any of the following:
- Under Student View:
  - To allow users to see the class average on the item, select the Display class average to users checkbox.
  - To allow users to see a graph showing how grades are distributed between different percentiles, select the Display grade distribution to users checkbox.
  - To allow graded users to view grade information for this item differently from other items in the grade book, select the Override display options for this item checkbox.
    - Select Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
- Under Managing View:
  - To view grade information for this item differently from other items in your grade book, select the Override display options for this item check box.
  - Select either Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
Click Save and Close.

Create pass/fail grade items

You can grade users using a simple pass/fail grade scheme. Note that you cannot associate calculated grade items with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments. Only numeric grade items can be associated with course objects.

To create pass/fail grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item.
Click Pass/Fail.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
In the Grading area, do any of the following:
- Enter the Maximum Points.
- To allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified for the item, select the Can Exceed checkbox.
  - Note: this selection only applies to the grade item. Can Exceed may need to be selected for the grade category also. If you enable Can Exceed after the score is passed from the Assignment tool, the score in Grades does not automatically update. You must retract the score from the assignment and republish the score.
- To make the grade item a bonus, select the Bonus checkbox.
- To exclude the grade item from final grade calculation, select the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation checkbox.
- From the Grade Scheme drop-down list, select a grading scheme for your grade item.
- To attach a rubric to the grade item, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, do any of the following:
- Under Student View:
  - To allow users to see the class average on the item, select the Display class average to users checkbox.
  - To allow users to see a graph showing how grades are distributed between different percentiles, select the Display grade distribution to users checkbox.
  - To allow graded users to view grade information for this item differently from other items in the grade book, select the Override display options for this item checkbox.
    - Select Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
- Under Managing View:
  - To view grade information for this item differently from other items in your grade book, select the Override display options for this item check box.
  - Select either Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
Click Save and Close.

Create numeric grade items

Grade users by assigning a value out of a specified total number of points. Numeric grade items are the only type of grade item that you can associate with course objects such as discussions, quizzes, and assignments.

To create numeric grade items

On the navbar, click Grades.
On the Manage Grades page, from the New button, click Item.
Click Numeric.
In the General area, enter your grade item details.
In the Grading area, do any of the following:
- Enter the Maximum Points.
- To allow users' grades to exceed the maximum points specified for the item, select the Can Exceed checkbox.
  - Note: this selection only applies to the grade item. Can Exceed may need to be selected for the grade category also. If you enable Can Exceed after the score is passed from the Assignment tool, the score in Grades does not automatically update. You must retract the score from the assignment and republish the score.
- To make the grade item a bonus, select the Bonus checkbox.
- To exclude the grade item from final grade calculation, select the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation checkbox.
- From the Grade Scheme drop-down list, select a grading scheme for your grade item.
- To attach a rubric to the grade item, click Add Rubric.
In the Display Options area, do any of the following:
- Under Student View:
  - To allow users to see the class average on the item, select the Display class average to users checkbox.
  - To allow users to see a graph showing how grades are distributed between different percentiles, select the Display grade distribution to users checkbox.
  - To allow graded users to view grade information for this item differently from other items in the grade book, select the Override display options for this item checkbox.
    - Select Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
- Under Managing View:
  - To view grade information for this item differently from other items in your grade book, select the Override display options for this item check box.
  - Select either Points, Grade scheme symbol, or Grade scheme color.
Click Save and Close.