Libraries HomeGrade Center - How do I drop the lowest grade in a group of assignments when not using weighted grades?
How do I drop the lowest grade in a group of assignments when not using weighted grades in the Grade Center?
For example an instructor has 6 assignments and she would like to drop the lowest grade on this group of assignments. She is not using weighted grades in grade center, which usually is the easiest way to do this, therefore we need to do some extra leg work.
First, she needs to assign all of the assignments to one specific category. For our example, we will call this category “Assignments”.
Then she needs to create a new Total Column in grade center. In the options under #1, name the column “cumulative assignment points” or something to differentiate it from the other total column, but still identify it as the total points for that group of assignments. Under #2 “Dates” make sure the grading period is set to “none”. Under #3 “Select Columns” she will choose the 3rd option “Selected columns or categories” and then she will choose her category “Assignments” and move it over to the right side. On this right side of options is where the “Drop lowest 1 grade” will be set up. The grading period must be set to “All” – this is very important. In #4 “Options” make sure that “Include this column in grade center calculations” is selected. We want this one to be included because it will reflect the group of assignments with the lowest grade dropped. So for example, let’s say a student got 10/10 points on 5 of the 6 assignments and a 9/10 on the 6th. The total points possible for this group of assignments are 50 since she’s dropping the lowest. The new total column that holds this category will display “50” once it is set up to drop lowest grade.
This also means that now we want to make sure they aren’t counted twice so we have to go to our other Total Column, our original one that contains all the points for the class and edit those options. So go into edit column information for the Total Column and scroll down to #3 “Select Columns”. Here we will do something similar but this time we want to select individual columns so choose the same button “selected columns or categories” and this time she will need to move each column over to the right but EXCLUDE the group of assignments that are in that category Assignments. So move all of the columns over in the top “columns to select” option but leave out the 6 assignments. Then scroll down to #4 “Options” and once again make sure that “include this column in grade center calculations” is selected and press Submit.
Now it should accurately reflect the points in both columns. Keep in mind that if the instructor continues to add assignments, tests or add new grade center columns after this is set up, she will need to go into her Total Column again and select those newly added columns and move them over to the right to also be included in total calculations or the total will not accurately reflect the student’s grade.
tags: drop, lowest grade, grades, weighted, grade center, assignments
