Desire2Learn

Gradebook: Setting Up Your Gradebookfor faculty

This document discusses the three steps to setting up your Desire2Learn gradebook. Those steps are as follows:

Return to topChoosing a Course Grading System

There are two course grading systems to choose from: a Weighted System or a Points System. Each affects all grade items and categories that you will be creating in different ways. For a definition of each system, refer to the Terminology document.

  1. From the Course Home page, click GRADES.

  2. Under the Grades Area, click GRADE SCHEMES.

  3. In the Schemes list, Percentage is selected as the default scheme.

  4. Click on GRADES SETTINGS.
  5. The Personal Display Options window appears. 
  6. Click on CALCULATION OPTIONS.  .
    Select the desired options.
    NOTES:
    Drop ungraded Items In Grade Calculations
    If you select this option and are dropping students' lowest score, you will need to assign a "0" for the dropped score.
    If you select this option, students will appear to be failing until most or all grades are entered. You may not want to release the final grade and to use a calculated grade item to reflect progress at a specific point during the semester.
  7. Click SAVE.

Return to topCreating a Grade Scheme

A grade scheme (i.e., grading scale) relates percentages to letter grades. For each range within a grade scheme, you will assign a Symbol (i.e., a letter grade) to a percentage grade at which the ranges Starts (for example, D = 60%). You may create a grade scheme at any time and you may create multiple grade schemes for use within a single course. If you would like to use Desire2Learn's default grade scheme, you must complete the steps under Choosing a Grade Scheme for Your Course.

  1. From the Course Home page, click GRADES.

  2. Under Grades Area , click GRADE SCHEMES.

  3. Click NEW.
    The New dialog opens.

  4. In the General section, in the Name text box, type the name for your grade scheme.

  5. In the Ranges section, type the letter and corresponding percentage for each grade range, starting with 1
    NOTE: In Desire2Learn, the first range begins at 0% and cannot be changed.


  6. To add ranges, specify the number of ranges to add and click ADD GRADE RANGES.
    To delete a range, click REMOVE.

  7. OPTIONAL: To associate a color with any range when displayed in the gradebook, from the Colour pull-down list, select the desired color.

  8. When you have created all of the ranges in your grade scheme, click SAVE.
    The screen is refreshed, providing you with a graphical representation of your grade scheme.

  9. To adjust your grade scheme, repeat steps 7 - 9.

return to topChoosing a Grade Scheme for Your Course

Once you have created your grade scheme(s), you must select one to use in your course. You will have the opportunity to assign a different grade scheme to gradebook items as they are created.
NOTE: Even if you choose to use Desire2Learn's default grade scheme, you must click SAVE on this page.

  1. From the Course Home page, click GRADES.

  2. Under the Grades Area, click GRADES SCHEMES.

  3. The Schemes List dialog box appears.

  4. Select the grade scheme you want to use.

  5. Click SAVE.
    HINT: Even if you choose to use Desire2Learn's default grade scheme, you must click SAVE on this page.

return to topGradebook Display Options

You may customize the appearance of the gradebook for both yourself and your students. Many options are self-explanatory; items of special note are discussed here.

Personal Display Options

The personal display options are visible to faculty while they are working with the gradebook. Lastname, Firstname for your students is always visible. Adding additional items will reduce the number of grade items visible at one time.

Additional grade details
Options will vary slightly depending on the type of grade calculation system you are using.

Repeat user details every X grade items
Depending on the width of your monitor's display, you will probably want to set this at a number less than the default. A good number to start with is 5. This option repeats the students' names (and any additional details you have selected) after the specified number of gradebook items. As you scroll horizontally, this allows you to keep the students' names visible.

Course Display Options

The course display options are visible to students as they view their grades.

Setting Display Options

  1. From the Course Home page, click GRADES.

  2. Click on GRADES SETTINGS.

  3. The Personal Display Options opens. 

  4. In the Instructor View Display Options section, select the options you would like your students to see when they view their grades.

  5. Click SAVE.