When setting up a gradebook in Moodle, using categories can help ensure a balanced and transparent grading system for students. This video walks through the process of setting up categories and assigning weights to different types of assessments, making it easier to manage grades effectively.
Why Use Categories?
Categories allow you to group similar types of assessments (e.g., assignments, quizzes, and final projects) and assign weights that reflect their importance in the final grade. This ensures a clear and fair distribution of grades for students.
Steps to Set Up Gradebook Categories
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Review Your Syllabus Weighting
Before setting up categories, ensure that the weight distribution of assignments, quizzes, and final projects aligns with your course syllabus. In this example, the weighting is:
- Assignments: 30%
- Quizzes: 30%
- Final Project: 40%
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Create Categories in Moodle
- Navigate to your gradebook setup.
- Add categories for each type of assessment (Assignments, Quizzes, Final Project).
- Assign a maximum grade that matches the weight of each category (e.g., 30 for Assignments, 30 for Quizzes, 40 for the Final Project).
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Move Assignments into Categories
- Assign individual assessments to the appropriate category.
- If there are multiple assignments or quizzes, Moodle will automatically distribute the grades within the category to match the assigned weight.
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Adjust Weights in the Gradebook
- Set the correct weightings for each category (30, 30, 40).
- Ensure all assessments add up to 100% for a balanced final grade calculation.
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Organizing Final Project Components
- The Final Project category can include multiple graded components (e.g., research, development, final submission).
- This setup allows students to track progress within a single category.
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Handling Ungraded Items
- To exclude items from the gradebook, create a Non-Graded Items category with a weight of 0% and hide it from students.
- This is useful for activities that don’t contribute to final grades.
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Student View & Grade Calculation
- Students can see their progress within each category.
- As more quizzes or assignments are added, Moodle automatically distributes the weight accordingly.
- Hidden items in the non-graded category won’t appear in student reports.
Key Benefits
✅ Fair Weighting – Ensures assessments contribute accurately to final grades.
✅ Flexibility – Easily add more assessments without disrupting the weighting system.
✅ Clear Student Reports – Helps students understand their standing in the course.
If you have more complex weighting needs, such as different weights within a single category, Moodle provides additional customization options. For further assistance, feel free to reach out!
3 More Gradebook Videos to Watch
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Managing Grade Visibility for Individual Students in Moodle
Learn how to hide or restore grades for individual students, ensuring grade privacy in Moodle.
👉 Watch here
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Duplicate Assignments & Managing Gradebook in Moodle
Avoid old grades affecting new courses when duplicating assignments by managing your gradebook properly.
👉 Watch here
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Course Total Grade Column Missing in Moodle Gradebook - Easy Fix
Restore the missing 'Course Total' column in your Moodle gradebook with this quick tutorial.
👉 Watch here
These videos will help you streamline and troubleshoot your Moodle gradebook setup! 🚀