Gradebook Navigation & Calculations

With Blackboard Ultra’s recent May 2024 update, gradebook navigation has been simplified to help instructors access graded items and the grid view of the gradebook. Blackboard has replaced grid and list view buttons with text links for Gradable Items, Grades, and Students.

Image 1. Instructor view of the new gradebook navigation menu

For ease of navigation, the Gradebook will remember the last view you used in each course.

Weighted Overall Grade Enhancements

Instructors have built-in grade calculation support with points, weighted, and advanced Overall Grade calculation options in Ultra. With the latest Blackboard update, instructors can assign either proportional or equal weights to items within categories, when using a weighted overall grade calculation.

Image 2. Instructor view of Items Weighted proportionally in Overall Grade calculation.

When an instructor selects proportional weights, all gradable items within a category will be weighted proportionally based on their relative point values. Expanding the category allows the instructor to see the weighted percentage of each item in the category.

 

When an instructor selects to weight category items equally, the percentage weight of each item is visible next to the category weight.

Total Calculation Columns

Within a weighted Overall Grade calculation, the chosen calculation method, whether proportional or equal, applies to all categories. However, instructors may use Total Calculation gradebook columns to further customize their Overall Grade calculations.

Just like any other gradebook item, Total Calculation columns can be weighted in the Overall Grade calculation to support varied calculation structures across assessment categories and types.