Skip to main content

Gradebook settings and workflows

Overview​

Gradebook Settings control how grades are calculated and displayed to students and instructors. Settings include grade distinctions (the labels or levels used in grade reporting), benchmark groups (how objectives are organized), and thresholds (rules that connect distinctions to performance).

Before you start​

Access grade calculation settings​

  1. Open your course.
  2. Select Course Settings from the course navigation.
  3. In the left sidebar, select Grade Calculations.
  4. The Grade Calculations overview page appears with three sub-areas:
    • Grade Distinctions
    • Grade Benchmarks (grade benchmark groups)
    • Grade Thresholds

Grade Distinctions​

Grade Distinctions are the labels or levels shown in gradebook cells and student grade reports — for example, letter grades (A, B, C), proficiency levels (Proficient, Developing), or custom labels (Mastered, In Progress, Emerging).

Create or edit a distinction​

  1. From Grade Calculations, select Grade Distinctions (or a sub-page that shows distinctions).
  2. Select Add Distinction or edit an existing distinction.
  3. Enter or update:
    • Label (the name or letter shown in the gradebook, e.g., "A" or "Proficient")
    • Display Order (optional; controls the order in which distinctions appear)
  4. Select Save.

Distinctions appear in the gradebook and on student grade summaries.

Delete or reorder distinctions​

  • To reorder, drag the distinction or use up/down controls.
  • To delete, select the distinction and confirm deletion (ensure no students currently hold that distinction to avoid data issues).

Grade Benchmarks (Benchmark Groups)​

Benchmark groups are collections of learning objectives that together contribute to a grade. Each benchmark group shows a set of proficiency level counts in the gradebook and feeds into grade threshold rules.

Create a benchmark group​

  1. From Grade Calculations, select Grade Benchmarks.
  2. Select Add Benchmark Group.
  3. Enter:
    • Group Name (e.g., "Content Knowledge", "Communication Skills")
    • Linked Objectives (select the objectives that belong to this group)
    • Weight or Inclusion settings (if your course uses weighting)
  4. Select Save.

The benchmark group now appears as columns in the gradebook.

Edit or delete a benchmark group​

  • Edit: Select the group and update objectives, name, or settings; select Save.
  • Delete: Select the group and confirm deletion. Once deleted, it no longer appears in gradebook calculations.
  • Mark as not included in grade calculations: A benchmark group can be present but excluded from the final distinction — useful when you want to track a skill separately.

Grade Thresholds​

Thresholds are rules that determine which Grade Distinction a student receives based on their performance across benchmark groups. A threshold typically says: "If a student meets X counts in this group and Y counts in that group, they receive this distinction."

Create a threshold rule​

  1. From Grade Calculations, select Grade Thresholds.
  2. Select Add Threshold.
  3. Configure:
    • Applies to Distinction — which distinction this rule awards (e.g., "A" or "Proficient")
    • Conditions — proficiency-level counts required per benchmark group (e.g., "At least 5 ratings at Proficient or above in Content Knowledge")
    • Rule logic — how conditions combine (all must be true, or any can be true)
  4. Select Save.

Edit or delete thresholds​

  • Edit: Select the threshold and update conditions; select Save.
  • Delete: Select and confirm. Students lose that distinction if they no longer meet remaining rules.

Threshold best practices​

  • Set thresholds after creating at least a few assignments and objectives.
  • Start simple: one benchmark group, one distinction rule. Add complexity once the basic workflow is stable.
  • Test thresholds on a small student group first to verify the distinction assignment makes sense.
  • If students show ? (unknown distinction) in the gradebook, check that threshold conditions match your benchmark groups and ratings.

Typical workflows​

Set up grades for a new course​

  1. Create Objectives and Proficiency Scales in Course Settings.
  2. Create Assignments and link them to objectives.
  3. Create Grade Distinctions (e.g., letter grades or proficiency labels).
  4. Organize objectives into Benchmark Groups (e.g., "Content", "Communication").
  5. Define Thresholds to connect benchmark group performance to distinctions.
  6. Rate a few assignments; check the gradebook to confirm distinctions appear correctly.
  7. Refine thresholds if necessary.

Change grade calculation mid-course​

  • Add a new distinction: Existing students keep their current distinction; new threshold rules apply going forward.
  • Exclude a benchmark group: Affected students' distinctions update as new ratings are recorded.
  • Adjust thresholds: Updates apply immediately; existing students' distinctions recalculate.

Troubleshoot grades not showing​

  1. Check that Objectives and Proficiency Scales exist.
  2. Verify Assignments are linked to objectives.
  3. Confirm Grade Distinctions are created.
  4. Ensure Benchmark Groups include the objectives you've rated.
  5. Check that Thresholds cover the distinctions you want to award.
  6. If students show ?, rate work in benchmark groups required by your thresholds.