How to Create a Grade Center Column

When you create Assignments, Tests, graded Discussion Boards, Journals, etc. a Grade Center column is automatically created to record student grades for those items. If you need to record grades for an item that is not submitted within Blackboard, such as in-class work, participation points, extra credit, etc. then you will need to manually create a column in the Grade Center.

Step-by-Step Guide

How to Create a Grade Center Column

1. Under the Control Panel, click Grade Center, and then click Full Grade Center.
   
    
2. Click Create Column.
   
    
3. On the Create Column page, in the Column Name box, type a name for the new column.
4. In the Grade Center Name, you can enter a column name that is only visible to the instructor. Names entered in this box are not visible to students.
5. In the Description text area, type a description, if desired. Students can see this description in the My Grades area.
   
    
6. In the Primary Display list, select the way you want the students' grades to appear in the Grade Center and in My Grades.
7. In the Secondary Display list, select the way you want the grades to appear in the Grade Center only. Students do not see the secondary display.
   
    
8. In the Category list, select a category for the column, if desired.
9. In the Points Possible box, type the points possible for this column.
10. Select Add Rubric, if you want to attach a Blackboard Rubric to this column. If you don’t have the Rubrics tool turned on in the Tool Availability menu, you will need to do that before you see this option.
    
     
11. In the Due Date box, select or type a due date for this column.
    
     
    Please Note:  If no Due Date is entered here, this item will not be added to the course calendar and students will not receive reminders about it.
12. Under Options, select Yes on Include this Column in Grade Center Calculations. If you select No, this column will not be included in the students’ total grade or any other calculations in the Grade Center.
13. Select Yes on Show this Column to Students, if desired. If you select No, students will not see this column in their My Grades menu.
14. Select the desired option on Show Statistics (average and median) for this column to Students in My Grades.
    
     
15. When you are finished, click Submit.

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