Averaging Classes

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The Average Classes option under the File menu is available for those who used it in earlier versions of MicroGrade and want to continue using it. For the newer, easier method of averaging classes, see Grading Periods .

When you average classes, you import overall grades or category averages (as percent scores) from two or more class files into a third "summary" class file. For each score imported, a unique category in your summary class file must be created. For example, if you want to average Class 1 and Class 2 into the Final Grade class file, create two categories in the "Final Grade" class called Class 1 and Class 2. If you want to average categories as well, you must create assignments for each category in each class file. For example, if Class 1 includes 3 categories (such as test, mid term and term paper), these categories can be listed as assignments for the Class 1 category in your Final Grade class file. You do not have to import every grade into the summary class file. Assignment scores independent of class files (such as final exam) can be entered directly into the summary class file. The scores you import are percent scores, so it is best to set the maximum points to 100 for each assignment in the summary class. This way, you can specify each assignment's weight toward the final grade just by entering a percentage.

Student ID Required

MicroGrade requires student IDs to identify students when averaging classes. Each student must be assigned a unique ID, which cannot change between classes. The best way to maintain student ID numbers in new classes is to set up new classes by using the Save As command from the File menu. To set up a new class, from the File menu, choose Save As, and select Option 2 from the Save As Options dialog. Click Save, and enter a new class name in the resulting dialog, followed by the OK/Save button. All of the student names and ID numbers are carried over into the new class. Repeat this process for every class that you wish to set up for the averaging process.

Procedure for Averaging Classes

The best way to show you how to average classes is with a simple example. Let's assume that you wish to combine a student's overall grade from two semester classes to compute the student's final course grade for the entire school year, as shown below. (semester 1 + semester 2) divided by 2 = final grade

In this case, let's assume you teach Math 100 and Math 101, and your students take both of the classes. It's now the end of the year, and you want to average the final grades for each class into one final grade per student. To accomplish this, you must create a summary class for the two classes as follows:

  1. Open the Math 101 class.
  2. While the Math 101 class is open, from the File menu, choose Save As. The Save As Options dialog appears. Select the Option 2 button.
  3. Select the Save button in the Save As Options dialog. The Save As Options dialog disappears, and the Save As dialog appears. Enter a new class name for the summary class, and select the OK/Save button. For the sake of our example, name the new summary class Math Final.
  4. You have just created a summary class called Math Final which includes the names and IDs of the students in both the semester classes. Now it's time to set up the assignments for the summary class. You set up one single assignment category for each class you plan on averaging.
  5. From the Edit menu, choose Setup Categories. The Edit Categories, Assignments For Grading Period dialog appears.
  6. In the dialog, define two single assignment categories; one named Math 100 and the other named Math 101. For each category enter a weight of 50% and a maximum score of 100 points.
  7. Once you have entered the categories, tile all four of the MicroGrade windows (Student Summary, Categories and Assignments, Class Scores, and Student Roster) so that they can be seen all at once.
  8. From the File menu, choose Save.
  9. From the File menu, choose Average Classes. A dialog appears, listing all of the classes that are currently defined.
  10. In the open dialog, select the class from which you wish to import grades. For the sake of our example we will assume that the name of the first class you want to import is Math 100. Assume that you selected Math 100 from the list box in the open dialog. The Average Class dialog appears. In the Average Classes dialog, the original class (from which you are importing) is displayed on the left. In our example, the original class is Math 100. The summary class (into which you are importing) is displayed on the right. The pop-up menu in the Copy field on the left allows you to specify the information you wish to import from the original class. You can import either a category average or the overall class grade. The pop-up menu in the To field on the right allows you to specify the assignment into which you wish to import. In this example, you will import overall grades from Math 100 into the Math 100 assignment of the Math Final summary class.
  11. Select Overall Grade in the Copy field.
  12. Select Math 100 in the To:.
  13. Select the OK button. An import dialog appears which displays the progress of the import, including any errors. You can print or save the error report.
  14. When you are done viewing the report, select the Finished button
  15. To import the second classes' grades, repeat the above steps for Math 101 class. Note that this time, however, you will select Math 101 as your import class and import Overall Grades into the Math 101 assignment of the Math Final summary class, as displayed below. A summary class functions the same as any other MicroGrade class. For example, you can have up to 16 categories and 128 individual assignments within the summary class. You can adjust your grade standards as needed, and you can setup assignments and enter scores. By using the weighted percent grading method you can specify the amount each overall class grade contributes to the student's average grade.