Northern Illinois University

Teaching with Blackboard

Grading Schemas


Blackboard TutorialsTutorials

Brief step-by-step videos on how to teach with Blackboard



Find More Information FAQ

View answers to frequently asked questions asked by NIU faculty and staff.


A Grading Schema is a set of rules based on percentage ranges that matches scores to specific grade displays.  For example, a student’s raw numeric score on a quiz that has 100 points possible is 88.  In a Grading Schema in which a percentage of 79.5 to 89.5 equals a B, this score results in a B.  This section outlines the steps for creating, modifying and removing grading schemas.

Creating a Grading Schema

  1. Click the Control Panel button on the left side of the screen in your Course homepage.
    Control Panel Button
  2. Under Assessment, click Grade Center.
    Click Gradecenter
  3. Click Manage from the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
    Click Manage
  4. Click Grading Schemas from the Manage dropdown listing.
    Grading Schema
  5. Click the Add Grading Schema button.
    Add Grading Schema
  6. Enter the Grading Schema name (required) and a Description (optional). 
    Name

    Note:

    • Name – the name will appear in the drop-down menu for Primary display and Secondary display when adding an item to the Grade Center as well as on the manage Grading Schema page.
    • Description – will appear on the manage Grading Schema page and can assist with identifying the Grading Schema.

  7. Create the Schema Mapping (rules to be used in assigning a grade). Rules
  8. New rows can be added by clicking the Insert Row button.
    Insert Rows
  9. Rows can be removed by clicking the Remove Row button.
    Remove rows
  10. Click the Submit button to create the Schema.
    Submit
    Note: A Success message and the new Grading Schema appear.
    Success

Applying a Grading Schema to a Column

  1. Click the Control Panel button on the left side of the screen in your Course homepage.
    Control Panel Button
  2. Under Assessment, click Grade Center.
    Click Gradecenter
  3. Click the down arrows in the Weighted Total column.
    Modify Column
  4. Select the Modify Column option.
    Modify Column
  5. Click the down arrowns to select Custom Letter Grade as the primary display option.
    Schema Name
  6. Make sure Custom Letter Grade is selected as the primary display. The secondary display is not viewable by the students.
    Custom Letter Grade
  7. Click the Submit button to save the changes.
    Submit
  8. Note: A Success message and the changed column appear.
    Applied

 

Modifying a Grading Schema

  1. Click the Control Panel button on the left side of the screen in your Course homepage.
    Control Panel Button
  2. Under Assessment, click Grade Center.
    Click Gradecenter
  3. Click Manage from the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
    Click Manage
  4. Click Grading Schemas from the Manage dropdown listing.
    Grading Schema
  5. Find the Grading Schema to change and click its Modify button.
    Modify button
  6. Make the desired changes to the Schema Name, Description, and Mapping.
  7. Click the Submit button to save the changes.
    Submit
    Note: A Success message and the updated schema are displayed.

Removing a Grading Schema

  1. Click the Control Panel button on the left side of the screen in your Course homepage.
    Control Panel Button
  2. Under Assessment, click Grade Center.
    Click Gradecenter
  3. Click Manage from the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
    Click Manage
  4. Click Grading Schemas from the Manage dropdown listing.
    Grading Schema
  5. Find the Grading Schema to delete and click its Remove button.
    Remove button
    Note:
    Faculty can remove the default Grading Schema only if they have made modifications to it.  Grading Schemas currently in use do not have a Remove button. 
  6. Click OK on the pop-up message to confirm deletion of the Grading Schema.
    Click OK to remove
    Note: The deleted Grading Schema will be removed from the listing.

Copying a Grading Schema

  1. Click the Control Panel button on the left side of the screen in your Course homepage.
    Control Panel Button
  2. Under Assessment, click Grade Center.
    Click Gradecenter
  3. Click Manage from the Action Bar of the Grade Center.
    Click Manage
  4. Click Grading Schemas from the Manage dropdown listing.
    Grading Schema
  5. Find the Grading Schema to modify and click its Copy button.
    Copy Button
    Note: The schema is copied and appears with a (2) in the title.  The copied schema can now be modified as needed.
    Copied

 


Blackboard Frequently Asked Questions FAQ



Find more answers...
Are you looking for more information regarding the Blackboard Grade Center? Review the answers to Blackboard frequently asked questions as well as Blackboard tutorials. Also, consider attending one of the upcoming Blackboard workshops.

Last Updated: 10/21/2009