Gradebook Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Not Excluding Hidden Grades

Problem

It is possible for your students to see a different course total than the one you see for them. This can lead to incorrect midterm or final grades being entered, and potentially grade disputes. 

Cause

Some instructors have grades they do not want calculated into the final course total, and will hide those grades in the gradebook. Unfortunately, hiding a grade only hides it from the student. Hidden grades are still calculated into the course total the instructor sees. 

To put this another way: Say the internet vanished tonight and all assessments had to be collected and graded by hand again. If an instructor collects an exam from their class, then grades the exam later that night at home, the instructor knows what each student's new grade is. The students only know what their grade is up to that point, not including the new exam grade (in other words, the exam grade is "hidden"). The students won't know their new, actual grade until the instructor shares it with them (makes it visible). This is philosophically why your gradebook only show students their course total excluding hidden grades, while the instructor sees the course total including hidden grades. 

Solution

If there's an assessment or grade that's not meant to be part of the course total, we recommend using Single View in the gradebook to exclude that grade from the course total calculation. To do this:

1. Open the gradebook
2. Click the Single View tab at the top (some clients have a drop-down menu instead of a row of tabs)
3. Select the activity from the grade item menu
4. Click the All link next to "Exclude"
5. Click the Save button at the top or bottom of the page

 If the grade is meant to be part of the course total, we recommend making it visible as early as possible. 

It's possible to configure the gradebook to show students a course total that includes hidden grades, but few instructors prefer this option. To do this:

1. Open the gradebook
2. Click the Setup tab at the top (some clients have a drop-down menu instead of a row of tabs)
3. Click the Course Grade Settings tab
4. At the very bottom of the page, in the User Report section, "Hide totals if they contain hidden items" to "Show totals including hidden items"

Note: This will show the students a course total they will not be able to calculate on their own using the available grades. It may also allow them to infer a grade the instructor did not intend to make available yet. 

2. Activity Grades Aren't Updating

Problem

Activities you previously entered grades into, like Assignment, Forum, or Quiz, no longer accept grades. This includes:

• Quizzes that will not calculate grades for additional attempts. 
• Assignments that will not publish or save instructor grades entered in the Assignment. 
• Forum grades entered in the Forum Grader. 

Cause

Graded activities like Assignment, Forum, and Quiz have a corresponding gradebook column that's automatically created when the activity is created. If an instructor manually enters a grade for that activity in the gradebook rather than through the activity, the grade becomes overridden and can no longer be updated through the activity. The override exists because your gradebook gives precedence to the grade you've manually entered over the one the activity pushes to the gradebook. 

Solution

There are two options for resolving an override:

1. Leave the override in place, and manually enter any remaining activity grades in the gradebook. 
2. Remove the override, allowing the activity to send new grades to the gradebook (this deletes the grade that was manually entered). 

To remove an override (Option 2 above):

1. Open the gradebook
2. Click the Single View tab at the top (some clients have a drop-down menu instead of a row of tabs)
3. Select the activity from the grade item menu
4. Uncheck any checked boxes in the Override column
5. Click the Save button at the top or bottom of the page

3. No Quiz Grades Are Displayed In The Gradebook

Problem

You can see several graded attempts in a Quiz, but the grades do not appear in the gradebook. None of the grades in the Quiz's gradebook column are overridden. 

Cause

One section of the Quiz settings is called "Review Options". The settings in this section determine what element of the Quiz learners can see, and when. Points (sometimes named Marks) is likely unchecked in the Later, while the quiz is open or After the quiz is closed column. 

Solution

If there is a close date and time set for the Quiz:

1. Turn on editing in your course
2. Click the gear icon next to the Quiz, and select "Edit settings"
3. Scroll to the Review Options heading (you may need to click to expand it)
4. Check the box next to Grades in the After the quiz is closed column
5. Save the Quiz

If there is not a close date and time set for the Quiz:

1. Turn on editing in your course
2. Click the gear icon next to the Quiz, and select "Edit settings"
3. Scroll to the Review Options heading (you may need to click to expand it)
4. Check the box next to Grades in the Later, while the quiz is open column
5. Save the Quiz