Gradebook Improvements for Clearer and More Flexible Grading
These gradebook updates make it easier to manage categories, calculate totals more transparently, and find learners faster.
What’s new (and why it matters)
- Extra credit is now possible in Gradebook setup while still using a weighted mean calculation.
- Exclude empty grades is now visible directly in category settings (no more hunting in a separate menu).
- Collapsible weighted categories reduce scrolling and make organization easier.
- A search function in the Grader Report helps you find specific students faster.
The Grade Book Setup Page
Gradebook setup overview: New features like collapsible categories, extra credit, and easy-to-access category editing improve the gradebook.
Easy Access to Gradebook Categories
Easy access: Gradebook categories and settings are now easier to access and manage.
Extra credit - Consult with EdTech if you want to use this
In Gradebook setup, you can now provide extra credit while maintaining a weighted mean calculation (instead of switching to natural aggregation). The technical setup for this is something to be mindful of and consulting the EdTech Team is recommended before implementing this yourself.
Use case: Add a small bonus quiz, participation item, or practice task that can boost grades without reworking your whole gradebook structure.
Extra Credit - Consult with EdTech Team
Above: Extra credit is now available while using weighted mean.
Exclude Empty Grades is easier to find (and more transparent for learners)
The Exclude Empty Grades option is now visible right in Gradebook setup on the main settings page for each category (instead of being tucked away in a separate menu).
This helps students see a course total based on what they’ve completed so far, supporting grade transparency and proactive check-ins.
Reminder: If you use this approach, enter 0 for any uncompleted graded assignments (unless excused) so the course total reflects missed work accurately.
Exclude Empty Grades
New Aggregation Option and Exclude Empty Grades: Exclude Empty Grades is now visible in category settings.
Collapsible categories = less scrolling, easier organization
Weighted categories in Gradebook setup and the Grader Report can now be collapsed for easier navigation.
To move items, select the boxes on the left and a Move icon appears at the bottom of the page.
Collapse Categories
Collapse Categories: Gradebook Setup’s collapse categories feature simplifies navigation.
Grader Report — Collapsible Categories (Expanded)
Collapse and simplify: Customise your view in the grader report to make grades easier to navigate.
Grader Report — Collapsible Categories (Collapsed)
Simplified: Collapsing categories reduces scrolling in large gradebooks.
Find students faster with Grader Report search
A search function has been added to the Grader Report, making it quicker to locate specific students.
Student Search in Grader Report
Grader report: Search the Grader Report to jump to a learner quickly.
Alphabetical Student List Option
Manage your grader report view: Use alphabetical ordering to locate students quickly in the Grader Report.
Suggested next steps
- Review your Gradebook setup and identify where an extra credit item could be helpful.
- Decide whether Exclude Empty Grades fits your grading approach, and apply it consistently by category.
- Use collapsible categories to clean up large gradebooks and reduce scrolling.
- Try the new Grader Report search when responding to student questions about progress.
Don’t miss the related course page updates (Part 1)
These gradebook changes were released alongside several updates to course pages. These Course Page Changes Matter (Part 1) covers layout improvements, Bulk Actions, topic subsections, and activity completion visibility that many instructors will notice right away.