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1. In the Control Panel, click on Grade Center > Full Grade Center
2. Click on Weighted Column underneath Create Calculated Column
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3. Column Name is a required field. Column Name is displayed in the Grade Center if no Grade Center Display Name is entered. This field only displays the first 15 characters in the Column header.
4. The Description is optional but helps Instructors and other graders identify the Column.
5. Primary Display option displays the grade format in the Grade Center and in My Grades. Selection options include Score, Text, Percentage, Letter and Complete/Incomplete. The Secondary Display option displays the grade format in the Grade Center only. The Secondary Display is denoted by parentheses.
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6. Scroll to see the rest of the form and define the weights of the various assessment items or their categories. You can weigh by individual assessment by category or assessments. Normally if you have more than one of the same kind of assessment, you weigh by category (e.g. 5 quizzes = Quizzes; 4 labs = Labs)
   Select all the categories or items to be included in the weighted column before entering the weights.

   1. Columns to Select: Lists all columns in the grade center representing graded items. Select the Column and click the arrow to add it to the weighted grade column. To remove a selected Category or Column from the calculation, click the red "X".

   2. Categories to Select: Lists all categories in the grade center. Select the category and click the arrow to add it to the weighted grade column. To remove a selected Category or Column from the calculation, click the red "X".
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            (Diagram shows weighted column based on individual assessments)

      Note
      Grade Columns that have been set to "No" for the setting "Include this column in Grade Center Calculations" do not display in the selection list.

7. Select Categories
   When a Category is selected, several other options appear:
   1. Select a Grading Period for the Category: Only available when Grading Periods have been created.
   2. Select how to Weight Columns within the Category:
          Equally: Applies equal value to all columns within a category.
          Proportionally: Applies the appropriate value to an assessment item based on its point value compared to other columns in the category.
   3. Drop Grades: Allows you to drop lowest of highest grades with the category. e.g. the lowest scoring of five quizzes. Alternatively, you could only use the high or low grade for the calculation.
   4. Use Only the Lowest or Highest Value to Calculate: Removes all grades from the calculation except for the best or worst score.
   5. Calculate as a Running Total: Calculates the weighted total by including only the grade columns that have been graded. Selecting No for this option includes all columns in the calculations, use zero (0) for columns that have not been graded. This can make grades appear artificially low.
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      (Diagram shows choosing categories instead of individual assessments)
      
      
8. Options
   
   1. Include this Column in Other Grade Center Calculations: Select No for this option to exclude this grade center column from calculations.
   2. Show this Column in My Grades: Select No for this option to hide this column from students in My Grades.

   3. Show Statistics (average and median) for this Column in My Grades: Select Yes for this option to show column statistics to students in My Grades.

9. Click Submit

Sources and Relevant Links

Blackboard Grading Schema