Table of Contents 

1. What are Grade items?
2. Getting started with Grade items 
3. How to create a Grade item 
4. Which Grade items should I use? 

1. What are Grade items? 

Grade Items in the Gradebook represent all tasks and activities you want to evaluate within a course. They can be included in the Gradebook as standalone items, or linked to assessment tools such as Discussions, Quizzes, and Assignments. The grades and feedback you enter in these tools are automatically updated in the Gradebook. 

2. Getting Started with Grade Items 

After setting up the Gradebook using the Setup Wizard, you can create Grade Items. These are often used in combination with Grade Categories. 

3. How to Create a Grade Item in a Weighted Grading System 

Step 1: Go to Grades in the Navbar. 

Step 2: Click on Manage Grades. 

Step 3: Under New, select Item.

 You will see the following screen: 

Step 4: Choose a Grade Item Type, such as Numeric. 

Step 5: Give the Grade Item a name (optional: select a category). 

•  Step 5a: Create a new category via Manage Grades -> New -> Category.
  

Step 6: Enter the maximum grade value in the Maximum Points field. 

Step 7: Enter the Weight (percentage) for the grade. The weight determines how much this Grade Item contributes to the final grade percentage.  

Note: If you cannot enter or adjust the weight, you may have selected the Distribute weight evenly across all items option when creating the grade category. In this case, the weights of Grade Items are distributed automatically and cannot be manually edited. 

Note: If you complete Step 7, the system uses a Weighted Grading System. If not, a Formula Grading System will apply. 

Step 8: Choose whether you want to use Can Exceed and Bonus: 

• Can Exceed: Enable this option if you want students to be able to earn more points than the maximum set for the item. If this option is not selected and a student scores above the maximum, only the maximum points will be recorded in the Gradebook. 

• Bonus: Use this option to allow extra points. Bonus items do not count toward the maximum possible points for a category or final grade but are added to the calculated grade. Note: Students cannot exceed the maximum grade due to bonus points unless you enable the Can Exceed option. 

Step 9: Select the Grade Scheme. Optional: Add a rubric to the Grade Scheme.  

Step 10: Adjust the display options as needed. 

Step 11: Click Save and Close. 

Which Grade Items Should I Use? 

The following Grade Items can be linked to an assignment and included in the final grade calculation: 

• Numeric: Students receive a grade based on a specific number of points. 

• Selectbox: Students are graded using a non-numeric grading scheme, such as A/B/C/D/F, Pass/Fail, or Insuffiecient/Sufficient/Good. 

The following Grade Items cannot be linked to an assignment but can be included in the final grade calculation in a Formula Grading System: 

• Formula: Formula Grade Items automatically calculate grades based on a pre-defined formula that incorporates other Grade Items. 

The following Grade Items cannot be linked to an assignment and are not included in final grades: 

• Text: Allows you to add textual comments that do not count toward final grades. Comparable option: General Feedback. 

• Pass/Fail: Students are graded based on a Pass/Fail scheme. Comparable option: Selectbox Grade Item with a Pass/Fail Grade Scheme. 

• Calculated: Combines multiple Grade Items. Comparable option: Formula Grade Item.