Getting to Know Brightspace: Gradebook Settings and Configuration Tips

To release final grades:  

1. From your course homepage, click Course Admin and select Grades. 
2. Click on Settings (in the top-right corner of the Grades tool). 
3. Under Calculation Options, scroll to Final Grade Released and check the boxes next to “Automatically release final grade.” Scroll down to Auto Update and Check “Automatically keep final grades updated.”  
4. Save your changes. Doing this should release all students’ existing final grades. 
5. To no longer release the final grades, uncheck the boxes next to “Automatically release final grade” and scroll down to Auto Update and Uncheck “Automatically keep final grades updated.”  
6. To confirm everything looks correct before releasing final grades, it’s recommended to impersonate a demo student using the “Preview as Student” feature. This ensures your students see exactly what you intended.  

To exclude an item from final grade calculations for a points-based grading system: 

1. Navigate to Course Admin > Grades > Manage Grades to view your list of grade items. 
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the item you wish to exclude and select Edit Grade Item. 
3. Scroll down to the Grading section. 
4. Under “Include in Final Grade Calculation,” (only available for points-based grade system and not weighted) uncheck the box labeled “Include this grade item in the final grade calculation.” 
5. Click Save and Close to confirm the exclusion. 

To exclude an item from final grade calculations for a weighted-based grading system:  

1. Navigate to Course Admin > Grades > Manage Grades to view your list of grade items. 
2. Click the dropdown arrow next to the item you wish to exclude and select Edit Grade Item. 
3. Scroll down to the Grading section. 
4. Set Weight to 0. 
5. Click Save and Close to confirm the exclusion. 

To hide a student’s Grades/Grade Item in the Gradebook: 

1. Navigate to the Grades tool in the navbar. 
2. Click on the Manage Grades tab. 
3. Locate a Grade Item/Grade Column you wish to hide from students. 
4. Click on the caret next to the grade item and select Hide from Students.  

To configure grade categories: 

1. Navigate to the Grades tool in the navbar. 
2. Go to Course Admin > Grades > Manage Grades and select New Category. 
3. Apply weights or points at the category level to simplify weighting multiple assessments. 
4. To drop the lowest grades, use the “Can Drop Lowest” feature in a category to automatically exclude low scores.  

For additional control to quickly find specific students or organize data: 

1. Use the search box and Magnifying Glass icon (funnel-shaped) in the upper-right corner. 
2. Choose “Sort by” criteria from options such as First Name, Last Name, Username, and Org Defined ID. 
3. Select the Grade Item you would like review under Score.