Step by Step Guide for Managing Assignments through Moodle Gradebook Setup


The purpose of this tutorial is to show how to automatic set up your Moodle gradebook to keep or drop certain assignments within a specific grade category. You can program this feature two different ways: (1) at the beginning of the semester or (2) at the end of the semester.  If you are not sure how many assignments will have in a specific grade category, you may want to wait until the end of the semester.  If you decide to only keep a certain number of grades, make sure this is clearly communicated to your students.  Otherwise, they may be surprised by the grade change at the end of the semester.  


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Step 1: Go to "Gradebook Setup"

  • It is important to note that this Moodle gradebook feature is only available if you have your gradebook set up to use weighed mean of grades with simple weighed mean of grades for individual grade categories.  This feature also does not work well if you have an extra credit assignment within that specific grade category.

Gradebook drop down menu with gradebook setup highlighted

Step 2: Go to "Edit Settings"

  • From your gradebook setup page, find the specific category you want to adapt.  From there, click on "edit settings" for that grade category.


Gradebook setup page is shown with the "edit" drop down option for a grade category is highlighted


Step 3: "Show More" in the "Grade Category"

  • In your settings for that grade category, you "Grade category," "Category total," and "Parent category." In the "Grade category" section, click on the words "show more." Now, you are able to see two different grade item features: "keep the highest" and "drop the lowest."  You can decide if you want to the gradebook to only record a certain number of grades, or if you want to the gradebook to drop a certain number of grades by the end of the semester.


The words "show more..." for the grade category is highlighted

REMINDER: If you have an extra credit assignment in this grade category, dropping the lowest grade will NOT work, so it is recommended that you use the "keep the highest" feature.


Step 4: Save your Assignment Grade Preference

  • Enter either the number of highest grades you wish to keep or number of grades you wish to drop (step one), then click on the blue "save changes" button (step two). You will see confirmation of your selection with a note included on your gradebook setup page for that grade category.  Once you have set up your gradebook to either keep the highest or drop the lowest grade for a grade category, as students complete the assignments, the gradebook will automatically update as necessary.  This is the benefit of setting up this feature at the beginning of the semester.  Students will always have the most up-to-date and accurate representation of their grade for that category.


  • In this image example, the lowest grade will be dropped in this grade category (step one).  


In this image example, drop the lowest is highlighted, with a one entered in the box and labeled as the first step. The blue save changes button is highlighted and labeled as step two.


REMINDER: If you do not have this programed at the beginning of the semester, remember to communicate the upcoming grade change to your students, and frequently.  Additionally, make sure you are still keeping the grades up to date with zeros for missed assignments so that the grade category is as accurate as possible.