Using Gradebook Categories | Blackboard Ultra | Seneca Polytechnic

You can use Gradebook categories to group different types of assessments. You can use the default categories or create new ones. Each category has an icon associated with it as a visual indicator for students. Note: You cannot customize category icons.

Default categories include: 

• Group Work
• Journal
• Assignment
• Test
• Discussion 
• Exam 
• Homework
• Presentation 
• Quiz

Accessing Gradebook Categories

To view, create, or delete existing Gradebook categories, complete the following tasks.

1. Select Gradebook.

2. Select the gear icon. The Gradebook Settings panel is displayed. 

3. Navigate to Grade Categories.
   
4. Complete any of the following actions:
   • To add a new category, select Add New Category, and then enter a new category name.
     
   • To edit or delete a category, select the ellipses beside the category. 
     Note: Blackboard Ultra has default categories that can NOT be edited or deleted (no ellipse beside the category).
     
     1. Select Edit, or Delete.
        

Changing an Assessment’s Category

You can change the category of an existing assessment by completing these tasks.

1. Select the Assessment. 

2. Select the gear icon. The Discussion Settings is displayed.

3. Select the drop-down box in Grade category.
   

4. Select a new Grade Category. 

5. Select Save. 

Using Gradebook Categories

Gradebook Categories are predominately used when setting up an overall grade or when dropping the lowest grade of a set of quizzes.

For the overall grade, you can specify a certain percentage of the total to apply to an entire category. For example, if there are five discussion posts each worth 2%, you could specify that the Discussion Category is worth 10%, instead of assigning 2% to each individual discussion board. This can be helpful if you have many smaller assessments.

You don’t need to use Gradebook categories when calculating a final grade. Individual assessments can be given a weight independently of the category they belong to. For information about setting up your course’s final grade, see Setting Up the Overall Grade | Blackboard Ultra. 

Another use is to drop the lowest grade of a set of quizzes. In this case, you will use the same category for the entire set of quizzes. When setting up the overall grade, you can select that a particular category drops the lowest grade.

See Dropping the Lowest Quiz Grade for more information.

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