Advanced grading options are available that make grading procedures fair and transparent for students. These are recommended if you already use tools such as rubrics to grade assignments. 


Advanced Grading Options for Assignments

  • Assignments use a default of Simple Direct Grading. This grading type is simply a set number of points awarded out of a total number of points. With this grading option, you can put additional feedback alongside the points. 
  • Other advanced grading options include checklist, grading guide, rubric, and ranged rubric


  • Advanced grading options required additional setup steps. If any of the advanced grading options are selected in the assignment editing window, when you click save, you'll see this screen next:


  • Select the type of advanced grading you'd like in the dropdown menu. Then click Define new grading form from scratch. (Templates can be saved and viewed by any instructor and are often developed to reuse across numerous sections or course terms. 
  • You will then be prompted to create the advanced grading option you selected. If checklist, then you'll make an associated checklist of items and related points for each item. If grading guide, you'll be prompted to create criteria and point values for those criteria. If rubric or ranged rubric, you'll be prompted to create a rubric with levels and associated point values.
  • Each advanced grading method will provide you additional options to consider such as "students can see the advanced grading criteria in advance". Select the options you wish to include, and click Save and Make Ready. 
  • Now when you go to grade the assignment, you will see the advanced grading options in a grading panel to the right of the assignment submitted. Below is an example of a rubric.


  • Advanced grading options make grading assignments clear, user friendly for you as a grader, transparent for students, and quick to enter grades. Rubrics, for instance, require you only to click on the appropriate level of criteria earned for each section, and the grade will auto-calculate based on how you set it up. You can also include feedback for each criteria as well as feedback for the assignment overall. 
  • Advanced grading takes a fair bit of setup on the front-end, but it can be very useful and efficient for classes with some shelf life that will be expected to be taught a number of times or for large numbers of students. 
  • Advanced grading options are, of course, optional. Simple direct grading requires nearly no setup, and as long as clear feedback is provided, can be clear and transparent for students. 



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