Gradebook Calculations
How to create and edit calculations (formerly "calculated columns") in the Ultra gradebook.
Creating a New Calculation
To create a new calculation, click the 
icon in the location where you wish to create a new column - this can be done next to any existing column. Select "Add Calculation" from the drop-down menu.
When the calculation editor opens, enter the name of your new calculation in the upper left.
Use the visibility settings button in the upper right to choose whether the calculation is visible or hidden to students. All gradebook columns, including calculations, are always visible to instructors and TA's.
Calculations can be used to display gradebook information to students that would otherwise be hidden. For example, students cannot directly view grading categories, but you can create a calculation of students' average grades for all assessments in the 'quiz' category and then make the quiz average calculation visible to students.
Optionally, you can edit the grade schema, running total, and/or description to change how the calculation is displayed in the gradebook. The default settings for schema and running total display are based your overall grade settings for the course.
Calculation Components
Build your calculation using any combination of the following functions, variables, and operators. Click the component in the left-hand menu to add it to the calculation. Click and drag components to rearrange them within the calculation editor box. It is not possible to type directly into the calculation editor.
- Average: Generates the average score for a selected category or set of gradebook columns.
- Total: Generates the total score for a selected category or set of gradebook columns.
- Minimum: Generates the lowest grade (by % score) from a selected category or set of gradebook columns
- Maximum: Generates the highest grade (by % score) from a selected category or set of gradebook columns
- Variable: Includes the score from a single gradebook column
- Add ( + )
- Subtract ( - )
- Divide ( / )
- Multiply ( * )
- Open Parenthesis (
- Close Parenthesis )
- Value: includes a static numerical value
Click "Validate" in the upper left to check whether your calculation is valid. If there are any invalid/unmatched components, they will be highlighted in red. The calculation cannot be saved until it is successfully validated.
