The group weighted grade type requires some changes to the grade book. First, it indicates the group of each complete lesson by an additional column:
Happy Planning
The group weighted grade type requires some changes to the grade book. First, it indicates the group of each complete lesson by an additional column:
Happy Planning
Scholaric offers two group-weighted grade formulas:
In short, each group is scored, and the grade is a weighted average of the groups. The difference between the two is how the score for the group is calculated.
For example, for Astronomy, you may specify these groups:
Below, the following terms are used:
These group-weighted grade types require an extra step of setup - defining the lesson groups for a course and their respective weights. This can be done for any course using either group-point weighted or group-equal weighted grade types. First, you must make the course use that grade type:
Note that a menu to change grade type now appears on the course menu in the planning grid. Once the course uses a group-weighted grade type, the menu changes, allowing you to edit the group weights:
The report card has this capability as well, but in either case, the course must have a group-weighted grade type.
Clicking on this brings up a new dialog:
The weights must add up to 100%, or the displayed total will turn red and updates will be disallowed. The picture also has a red weight for the default group, because the default group cannot have a zero weight.
To set the weight of existing groups, just enter the weight. To add a new group, like Observations in the example, click the Add Group button.
With all groups weighted correctly, the last thing to do is select a proper default group. With all this done, click the Update button.
When editing existing weights, the Delete button is enabled. Clicking this resets the group's weight value to zero. The weight will be deleted on the next update.
If there are no other courses using that group, and no lessons referencing the group, the group is deleted as well.
With the group weights set up, you can assign lessons to their groups. For a group weighted course only, the lesson dialog shows a group field:
The selection control displays only the groups which have a weight for the course in the current period. Scholaric automatically selects the group you labeled as default for this course.
Happy Planning
Scholaric is nearing one million planned lessons for homeschoolers:
To celebrate, I'm giving away one year free subscription to Scholaric.
To enter, you must:
Note that you can be an exiting customer, or sign up for a new trial. No purchase is necessary.
To get up to two additional entries, you can:
Winner will be picked at random, and any funny business will get you disqualified. My decision is final of course.
Happy Planning, and thanks for the help in getting to a million!
The coming release of group-weighted grading will have an updated course menu - adding the ability to change the grade type. Here you can see the additional grade types:
Previously, the only place you could change a grade type was in the report card, which only was available if there were completed lessons.
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The grade type unweighted will be renamed to equal-weighted in the coming release.
This is more clear of a name for how the formula works - each lesson is weighted equally.
Here is a map of U.S. usage in 2012 (darker = more usage):
And the top cities (by metro area):
So why isn't your state/town listed here? Tell your friends about Scholaric, and try to unseat the champion!
Thanks for a great 2012, and Happy Planning