How to Set Up the Overall Grade

The Ultra interface has a new gradable column called Overall Grade. You should use this to set up a weighted calculation that combines your students' work, such as assignments, tests, participation, and more. You can display this to students so they can see their progress in the course.  

1. Navigate to gradebook in the top horizontal bar: 

2. Navigate to grades for a column view, and Set it up on the right hand side 

*Note: If you do not see the Set Up menu on the right side, click the Gear Settings Icon in the upper right, scroll down, and then select Set up Overall grade. 

3. Selected Weighted and press next  

4. Make sure the following settings are selected:  

A. Select Calculation Type: Weighted 

B. Weight gradable items within a category: Proportionally 

C. Calculate grades based on points earned out of total graded points: 

• UNCHECKED if you want your calculated running total to include columns with no current student submissions. 

(I.E. if you turn this on at the start of class, your student will have an F in the Overall Grade column because the system counts the lack of any entry as a 0.) 

• CHECKED if you want your calculated running total to exclude columns with no current student submissions. 

(I.E. if you turn this on at the start of class, your students will have a blank entry in the Overall Grade column. If will only continue the running total once a column has grades inside of them.) 

D. Select how the overall grade is displayed: Percentage  

E. Show to students: 

• We recommend UNCHECKED until you are ready to share with students. 
• CHECKED could be useful if you want your students to track their progress throughout the semester.  

F. Press Save to keep your settings 

*Note: when you select gradable items per category, anything in that category will be weighted equally; items NOT in a category will be weighted based on your customizations. 

5. Assigning weights to gradable items 

A. The circle with the line through it will result in that item not being counted towards the final grade. 

B. The downward arrow to the right of that reveals all the items within that category 

C. The link with the line through it removes an item from the category (remove all areas) 

D. CCSG basics should be listed within the homework category and assigned the combined percentage of all CCSGS, this will distribute the weights for each CCSG. 

*Note: The homework category is assigned when you add the CCSG in the settings panel.  

6. (Optional) add a Final_Letter_Grade Column if it’s missing 

• Hover in between columns to show the plus sign. 
• Click the + sign and then click add item.  

7. If you do not enter final grades directly into Empower: 

• Ensure your Final_Letter_Grade Column is set up correctly for a second view.  
• Click on Final_Letter_Grade Column and then select Edit 
• For Due Date: We recommend you add the last day of class (this does not really matter but keeps things consistent) 
• For Grade Using: You must ensure you are using the correct grade schema. 
  • Your grading schemas are listed here

*Do not add any calculations, you will add the NUMBER grade (rounded if applicable to this column).