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Creating and Managing Grade Categories in Blackboard
Organizing assignments, assessments, and other gradable activities into grade categories in Blackboard is important when setting up a Weighted Total column.
Instructions: Creating a New Category
- To create grade categories, begin by locating the Course Management panel on the left side of the screen inside your Blackboard course.
- You may need to unhide the side panel by clicking in the left margin of your browser.
- Click on Grade Center to expand.
- Click on Full Grade Center.
- Inside the Full Grade Center, hover over the Manage button, then click Categories from the drop-down box.
- To create a category, click on the button Create Category at the top of the Categories screen.
- Give the category a name. A description is not necessary, though you can provide one if desired.
- Click Submit. The new category will now appear on the Categories screen.
The Categories view shows what categories each item in the Grade Center has been assigned. Unless you have previously created categories or copied a course into the course in which you are in, the categories present are default categories created by Blackboard. You can choose to use these default categories, or you can create your own. It is important to periodically review this view to make sure assignments are moved from the default category to the appropriate category, should you create your own.
Video: Creating a New Category
Instructions: Changing a Column’s Category
The Column Organization view shows how the Full Grade Center is organized.
To change any item’s category:
- Locate the Course Management panel.
- Click on Grade Center.
- Click on the Full Grade Center.
- Using your mouse, hover over the Manage button.
- Click Column Organization from the drop-down box.
- Click the box to the left of the item name. A check should appear inside the box.
- Scroll to the top (or bottom) of the Column Organization view to the buttons. Click Change Category To…
- Click on the appropriate category in the drop-down box.
- The category will change once you click on the intended category.
- Click Submit to change your settings.
Video: Changing a Column’s Category
Special Notes
- Creating and managing categories is the first step to creating a Weighted Total Column.
- The Column Organization view offers useful tools in organizing your Grade Center – this is where you can rearrange columns, sort categories, and perform other useful clean-up tasks.
If you need help with these directions, have any questions, or would like assistance, please contact the HelpDesk by email at or at 828-327-7000 ext. 4444.