Desire2Learn

Gradebook: Terminology

This document discusses some of the terminology unique to the Desire2Learn Gradebook.

Bonus Item
A bonus item is an item that offers an opportunity for a student to earn additional points toward his/her final grade.
Example: Each week students may take a two-question current events quiz. Students who opt to take the quizzes, receive one point for each correctly answered question. These points add to their final grade. Students who opt not to take the quizzes will not be penalized.

Calculated Type Grade Item
This type of grade item is not included in the final grade; it is another form of reference. This type of item calculates the total of selected grade items (e.g., all assignments leading up to midterm).

Checkbox Type Grade Item
This type of grade item gives all or nothing credit (e.g., a student did or did not attend a guest lecturer's presentation).

Extra Credit
This type of grade item provides an opportunity for a student to earn additional points beyond those assigned to that grade item.
Example: A quiz has 10 questions, each worth 1 point. This grade item is worth 10 points. The quiz also has two additional questions each worth 1 point. A student answering all 12 questions correctly can receive 12 points for this grade item.

Grade Colors
As you create a grade scheme(s) for your gradebook you can assign colors for the various grade levels. When viewing your gradebook, in addition to their score, you will have a color cue as to your students' grades.

Grade Scheme
A grade scheme relates percentages to letter grades (e.g., 60% = D). You may create multiple grade schemes for use within a single course. (e.g., a grade scheme for quizzes and a separate grade scheme for exams).

Log of Events
This displays all actions taken in the gradebook and who performed them.

Numeric Type Grade Item
This type of grade item has an assigned point value (e.g., an exam worth 100 points).

Points Grading System
Under the 'points' system, each item is assigned a point value. If categories are used, they are for organizational purposes only.

Selectbox Type Grade Item
This type of grade item is graded manually using a pull-down menu. The letter grades in the pull-down menu are based on a grade scheme that you create (the grade scheme for Selectbox grade items should be distinct from other grade schemes you may be using).
Example: You assign a "B" to a student's short essay. According to the grade scheme that you created for Selectbox items, that student will receive 90% of the total possible points for that essay. All students receiving a "B" will receive 90%.

Text Type Grade Item
This type of grade item provides brief comments rather than a letter or percentage grade. This type of item serves more as a reference for instructors who may want additional criteria when deciding borderline grades.

Weighted Grading System*
"Under the 'weighted' system, grade categories are assigned a weight as a percentage of the final grade, and grade items are assigned a weight as a percentage of their parent category (or of the final grade if they have no parent category)." All categories must total 100% and all items within a category must total 100% of the category.
Example: Your gradebook consists of the following categories: Attendance - 5%, Quizzes - 20%, Essays - 20%, Exams - 30%, Final Exam - 25%. Within the Quizzes category, you have 5 quizzes each worth 20% of the total for that category.

*Definition from Desire2Learn