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ATLAS Gradebook - Excused Assignments Explained
Learn more about how ATLAS Gradebook handles excused assignments.
| In ATLAS Gradebook, excused assignments are handled in two possible ways. These two methods will present the exact same percentage except for cases where the grade calculation weights assignments equally and also uses the drop assignments option. Excused Average Method (default): An excused assignment is given a score value of the average score of all assignments in the category that have a valid entry. The average of the scores completed with a valid score entry is calculated taking the number count of valid scores divided by the sum total of the valid scores. In this way, each student has the same total number of assignment scores for the assignment category, regardless of number of assignments excused. Excused Drop Method: The excused assignment is dropped completely, and the total count of assignments for the category lowers by the total amount of excused assignments during grade calculation. Likewise, the amount of total points for the assignment category is lowered by the amount of total points of excused assignments during grade calculation. |
You select your excused assignments method in the grade calculation formula area under the Excused Assignments for each assignment category (as pictured below):
Below is an example of how a score set could give different percentages if assignments are equally weighted and the dropping scores is used.
Here's an example of the Excused Average Method:
Entered Scores
Assignment 1: Excused
Assignment 2: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 3: 4 of 5 points
Assignment 4: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 5: 3 of 5 points
When calculating the scores to find the value to assign the excused assignment, the example above would execute as follows:
(Sum of assignment scores for scored assignments / total count of scored assignments) = Score of excused assignment
(5 + 4 + 5 + 3) / 4 = 4.25
Assignment 1 is given the value of 4.25 in calculation.
In this particular example, the instructor has also decided to drop the single lowest score. As a result the score of '3 of 5 points' will not be included in the final calculation.
Scores shown below.
Calculated Scores
Assignment 1: 4.25 of 5 points
Assignment 2: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 3: 4 of 5 points
Assignment 4: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 5: dropped
Total: 18.25 of 20 points - 91%
Here's an example of the Excused Drop Method:
Entered Scores
Assignment 1: Excused
Assignment 2: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 3: 4 of 5 points
Assignment 4: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 5: 3 of 5 points
Assignment 1 is excused and dropped from the point total and assignment count for grade calculation. Calculation is sum of non-excused scores out of sum of non-excused points possible.
In this particular example, the instructor has also decided to drop the single lowest score. As a result the score of '3 of 5 points' will not be included.
Calculated Scores
Assignment 1: Excused
Assignment 2: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 3: 4 of 5 points
Assignment 4: 5 of 5 points
Assignment 5: dropped
Total: 14 of 15 points - 93%