Adding Grade Columns to the Grade Center

Overview
Instructors can add gradable items to the Grade Center automatically, manually, or through uploading. Gradable items that are added to the Course Content such as an exam or a test automatically generate a column in the Grade Center. Gradable items that are not added from the Course Content need to have a column created manually in Grade Center. These columns then may be displayed to the Students and Observers. Once created, columns and their parameters can be modified by the Instructor.

Automatically Generated Grade Center Columns
All gradable items through the Blackboard Learning System automatically generate columns in the CourseÕs Grade Center. These columns are eligible for use in all of the Grade Center operations. The following gradable items automatically generate a column: a) Discussion Boards - Must have the forum settings set to grade the forum or forum thread; b) Assignments - Assignments are graded manually; c) Surveys - Surveys are automatically scored. Surveys can be included or excluded in Grade Center calculations; d) Assessments - Assessments can be automatically scored online, in which case the grade is automatically entered in the Grade Center column. Assessments may also contain questions that need to be scored manually, such as an essay question, and require the grade to be entered manually.

Manually Creating Grade Center Columns
To create a column in the Grade Center, follow these steps from the Grade Center page:

1. Click Add Grade Column in the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
2. Enter a Column Name. This is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field only accepts 15 characters.
3. Enter a Grade Center Display Name.
4. Enter a Description.
5. Select a Primary Display option from the drop-down menu. The default choice is Score. The selections are based on the Grading Schema, and default selections.
6. Select a Secondary Display from the drop-down menu. This is denoted by parentheses. The options are the same as the primary display choices.
7. Select a Category from the drop-down menu. This associates the column to a Category. The default choice is No Category.
8. Enter Points Possible. Non-numeric entries are not accepted.
9. Select a Grading Period. This will associate the column to a Grading Period. Grading Period and the drop-down menu will not display unless Grading Periods have previously been created.
10. Creation Date
11. Enter a Due Date.
12. Set additional Options for the column by selecting the Yes or No radio button for the following:
13. Include Column in Grade Center calculations - the column is included in the possible selections of items when creating Calculated Columns, such as Weighted Grades Columns or Total Point Columns.
14. Show this Column in My Grades - Grades will appear in My Grades, View Grades, when available.
15. Show Statistics (average and mean) for this column in My Grades - Includes statistical information with the grade value when shown to students.
16. Click Submit to save.

Tip: To calculate a Score's Percentage select Score from the Primary Display drop-down menu and select Percentage from the Secondary Display drop-down menu.

Questions to help@campus.fsu.edu

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