Create columns

Updated 19 Feb 2024

You can create new columns in the gradebook to reflect your grading needs. You may want to create columns to track supplemental data or to aggregate scores of selected assessments. For example, you might create a column to track student participation or attendance or import grades into.

When you add columns to the gradebook, the following rules apply:

  • You cannot use commas in column names or column data because doing so causes problems if you try to download data.
  • You can create up to 200 columns at the top-level default view.
  • You can create up to 200 columns in a single folder.
  • Custom columns appear at the start of the gradebook.

Video: How to create columns in the gradebook

Add custom columns

  1. Open the gradebook .
  2. Click Insert button .
  3. Proceed with the instructions in the following table, which summarizes the type of custom columns you can create.

The following table summarizes the types of custom columns you can create. After you create a custom column, an icon appears in the column heading to identify its type.

Column Type Description

Numeric

 

You can enter only numbers. Use this column to enter numeric grades for an assignment or other student work that is not associated with a defined activity, readiness check or study plan.

To add a numeric column:

  1. Select Numeric.
  2. Enter a Column name of up to 25 alphanumeric characters.
  3. Click Save.

Calculated

You can specify different formulas to calculate the grade. You can aggregate grades for selected activities or assign a weight to the final calculated grade.

:

  • For grade-to-date and grade-to total calculations, only activities that are available to students are considered.
  • If you change an activity's availability, updates to the calculation may not appear immediately.
  • If the calculated column includes activities with numeric or grade schema values rather than percentage values, the numeric or grade schema value is used for the calculation and appears in the gradebook.

To add a calculated column:

  1. Select Calculated.
  2. Enter a Column name of up to 25 alphanumeric characters.
  3. Select the operation to perform. Options are Sum orAvg (average) By default, the Avg operation is selected.
  4. Specify the Grade Weight (%), up to 100%.
  5. Click the check box Use Grading Schema Grades if you want to view grades by percentages.
  6. Click Save.

Free Text

You can enter text when grading student work. You can enter a maximum of 1000 alphanumeric characters in the text you post for the student grade.

To add a free text column:

  1. Select Free Text.
  2. Enter a Column name of up to 1000 alphanumeric characters.
  3. Click Save.

Total Column

You can calculate totals for specified activities and/or grade columns. You must assign a weight to each activity or grade column included in the total grade column.

If a calculated column includes activities with numeric or grade schema values rather than percentage values, the numeric or grade schema values are used for column calculations and appear in the gradebook.

To add a total column:

  1. Select Total Column.
  2. Enter a Column name of up to 25 alphanumeric characters.
  3. Click the check box Use Grading Schema Grades if you want to view grades by percentages.
  4. Click Save.

Edit custom columns

  1. Select the name of a custom column
  2. Select Edit Column from the option menu.
  3. Make the appropriate changes.
  4. Click Save.