How to Use Grade Tools

Step 1: Access the Grades Tool

1. Log in to D2L using your username and password.
2. Select Your Course from the My Courses widget.
3. In the course navigation bar (navbar), click Grades to access the Grades tool.

Step 2: Configure Personal Gradebook View

The Configure Personal Grades Tool Settings allows instructors to customize their own view of the gradebook. These settings do not affect what students see.

1. In the Grades tool, click Settings at the top-right.
2. Under Personal Display Options, configure:
   • User Details: Choose to display student names or organizational-defined IDs (e.g., student numbers).
   • Grade Details: Select whether to show points, grade scheme symbols, and grade scheme colors.
   • Text Display Options: Adjust the number of characters to display for text-based grade items.
   • Column Display Options: Set:
     • The number of columns before student details repeat.
     • The number of students before column headers repeat.
   • Final Grade Repetition: Choose whether to repeat the final grade column for easier reference.
3. Set the Default Start Page for the Grades tool by selecting one of the following options:
   • Enter Grades
   • Manage Grades
   • Grade Settings
   • Grade Schemes
   • Setup Wizard
4. Click Save, then Close.

Step 3: Configure Organization Unit Display Options

These settings control how the gradebook is displayed to students and other course users.

1. In Grades Settings, navigate to the Org Unit Display Options tab.
2. Adjust the settings for how students view their grades:
   • Grade Details: Choose to display points, grade scheme symbols, and grade scheme colors.
   • Text Display Options: Set the number of characters displayed.
   • Final Grade Calculation Visibility: Choose whether students can see the final grade calculation method.
   • ePortfolio Artifacts: Enable or disable linking grades to student ePortfolios.
3. Click Save, then Close.

Step 4: Set Grade Calculation Options

The Configure Grade Calculation settings determine how grades are calculated and displayed in the course.

1. In Grades Settings, select the Calculation Options tab.
2. Configure the Grading System:
   • Weighted: Grades are calculated based on category weightings.
   • Points: Grades are calculated based on total points earned.
   • Formula: Custom formulas determine grade calculations.
3. Select the Final Grade Release Method:
   • Calculated Final Grade: Automatically generated based on grade items.
   • Adjusted Final Grade: Allows manual adjustments before release.
4. Choose how ungraded items are treated:
   • Drop Ungraded Items: Leaves ungraded items out of the final calculation.
   • Treat Ungraded Items as Zero: Counts ungraded items as zero in the final calculation.
5. Enable Auto Update to automatically recalculate final grades when changes are made.
6. Click Save, then Close.

Step 5: Manage View Display Options

1. In Grades Settings, navigate to the Managing View Display Options tab.
2. Adjust how grades appear when grading:
   • Set the number of decimal places displayed (must be between 0 and 5).
3. Click Save, then Close.