Use the formula editor tool in myCourses

Owned by Katrina Casey Kosyk, Miss
Last updated: Mar 26, 2024
3 min read

  • For simple grade formulas, such as dropping the lowest quiz score from a number of quizzes or counting only the highest assignment scores, it is strongly recommended to create a Grade Category instead of using formulas.

  • Using the Formula Editor is not required in myCourses unless you want to perform advanced calculations on your students’ grades.

Recommendations:

  • Choose the Points or Weighted Grading System as the overall grading system in the Setup Wizard.

  • Create a Grade Category for simple calculations, such as dropping the lowest quiz score from a number of quizzes.

  • Create an individual Formula grade item for advanced calculations only.

Build a formula

  1. On the Manage Grades page, click New > Item (Column) > Formula to create a Formula grade item.

  2. Click the [Edit Using the Formula Editor] link.

  3. In the pop-up window that appears, begin the formula:

    1. Select a Function from any of the following:

Function

Description

Function

Description

SUM

Calculates the sum (total) of a set of values.

AVG

Calculates the average for a set of values by adding all the values and dividing by the total number of values.

MAX

Takes the highest value in a set of values

MIN

Takes the lowest value in a set of values.

IF

Operates as a Boolean statement that returns either the value set as true or as false, using the following 3 properties:

  • Cond is a Boolean statement

  • then_val may be a Real number value, a Numeric grade item, a Pass/Fail grade item, a Formula grade item, or a function

  • else_val may be a Real number value, a Numeric grade item, a Pass/Fail grade item, a Formula grade item, or a function

NOT

Operates as a Boolean statement that returns the value set as true if the condition is false, and set as false if the condition is true.

b. Click Start to insert the function and the starting curly bracket.

  1. Create the formula:

    1. Select a grade item.

    2. Select a value type (Points Received, Max Points, or Percent).

    3. Click Insert.

    4. Click Next Term. This automatically enters a comma to separate each term of the formula.

    5. Repeat to insert more grade items in your formula.

    6. Click End to insert the ending curly bracket.

  2. Click Validate. The formula must be validated before you can preview it or insert it into the Formula grade item.

    If the syntax you entered is correct, a success message appears above the Formula Area. If not, a pop-up indicates an error to be corrected. The syntax must conform to standard formula grammar in order to be valid.

  3. (Optional) Click Preview to view the results of applying the formula.

  4. Click Insert at the bottom of the window. The formula string will be displayed on the Properties tab of the item.

  5. Click Save and close.

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