WebCT
Faculty Tip Sheets
Column Types
Different columns store different types of information. For example, quiz grades are stored in a quiz column, names are stored in an alphanumeric column, and a final grade can be stored in a calculated column. You can select the column type when you first create a column, or you can convert an existing column to a different type. A column type symbol for each existing column is displayed on the Column screen in the Type row. Column type symbols are defined in the Legend of Column Types below the table.
The following column types are available:
Note: You cannot create a Quiz or Assignment column. This column type is generated automatically when a Quiz or Assignment is created.
Alphanumeric Columns
You can add information consisting of letters and/or numbers (e.g., name, User ID, student number, phone number) to the Student table. You do this by creating an alphanumeric column, and then entering the information into the column. Note: Information must not exceed one line. To add information that occupies several lines and contains hard returns, use a text column.
To enter information in the column:
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course.
- Click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- Under the column name, click Edit. The Edit Column Values screen appears.
- In the text boxes, enter the information.
- When you are finished, click Update. The Student table appears and the information is entered.
Numeric Columns
You can add strictly numerical information (e.g., numeric grade, student number, phone number) to the Student table. You do this by creating a numeric column, and then entering the information into the column.
To enter the information in the column:
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course.
- Click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- Under the column name, click Edit. The Edit Column Values screen appears.
- In the text boxes, enter the information.
- When you are finished, click Update. The Student table appears and the information is entered.
Numeric columns contain only digits. These columns can be used in conjunction with calculated columns to calculate totals. Examples of possible numeric columns include assignment grades and exam grades.
To designate total possible points for a numeric column:
Note: Before a numeric column can be used to calculate a total, designate the total possible points for that column. This step is very important!
- Click Edit at the top of a numeric column. The Edit Column Values screen appears.
- In the Out of text box, enter the total possible points.
- Click Update to save the changes. The Manage Students screen appears.
Letter Grade Columns
You can generate letter grades that correspond to the numeric grades in a specific numeric, calculated, or quiz column in the Student table. You do this by creating a letter grade column and then selecting a numeric range for each letter grade. Notes:
- By default, the numeric range for a letter grade column is 0 to 100%.
- If you want to enter letter grades manually, use an alphanumeric column.
To choose your grading scheme:
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course. Click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- In the Student table, under the column name you just created, click Grading Scheme. The Letter Grade Editor screen appears.
- From the Apply the grading scheme to drop-down list, select the column that the letter grade is associated with.
- Select a grading scheme:
- If you want to select a Default option, do one of the following:
- To apply the WebCT default grading scheme, click Use WebCT default.
- To apply the grading scheme that you have already created for the course (if applicable), click Use course default.
- If you want to create a new grading scheme, in the table, change the lower limit and/or letter grade of each Range %:
- Under Lower Limit %, enter the minimum percentage that a student must achieve to receive the corresponding letter grade. For example, if a student must achieve a minimum of 60% to receive a letter grade of "C," you would enter 60 as the lower limit. That means, a student who achieves 59.9999% will receive the next letter below a "C."
- To change the letter grade, under Letter Grade, enter the new letter grade.
- To update the Range % field, click Refresh ranges.
- If you want to add a grading range:
- To add a row below a particular range, select the range's check box, and click Add Row. The new row is added below the existing range. Note: To add more than one row at a time, select multiple check boxes.
- Under Lower Limit %, enter the new lower limit.
- Under Letter Grade, enter the new letter grade.
- Click Refresh ranges.
- If you want to delete a range, select its check box, click Delete Row, and then click Refresh ranges.
- To designate this grading scheme as the course default, click Set as course default.
- Click Update. The Manage Students screen appears.
To override a letter grade:
You can manually override a letter grade. The new grade appears in gray to indicate it has been changed.
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course, and then click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- In the Student table, in the leftmost column, click the student whose grade you want to override. The Edit Record screen appears.
- In the grade column, click Override.
- In the text box, enter the new letter grade and click Override. Note: To return to the original grade, click Revert.
- Click Update. The Manage Students screen appears with the new grade.
Selection Box Columns
If you have the type of information that can be selected from a drop-down list, use a selection box column. You create a selection box by adding the column, creating the selection box drop-down list, and then selecting an option for each student. For example, instead of manually entering students' classification, add the group names to a selection box. Then, for each student, select the appropriate group name from the selection box drop-down list.
To edit a selection drop-down list:
Now, go to the Student table to create the selections that will appear in the selection box drop-down list.
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course, and then click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- In the Student table, under the selection box column name, click Selection. The Selection Box Editor screen appears.
- In the text boxes, enter your selections. If you need more selections, click More Selections.
- Click Update. The Manage Students screen appears .
To make your selection for each student:
- In the Student table, under the selection box column name, click Edit. The Edit Column Values screen appears.
- For each student record, make a selection from the drop-down list.
- Click Update. The Manage Students screen appears and the Student table is updated.
To change the selection:
- From Manage Students, in the Student table, under the selection box column name, click Edit. The Edit Column Values screen appears.
- For the student, change the selection in the drop-down list.
- Click Update. The Student table appears and the information is changed.
Calculated Columns
You can calculate interim or final grades in the Student table. You do this by creating a calculated column and then entering a mathematical formula to make calculations based on the values in numeric columns. The calculated column displays the results of the calculation. Note: Unlike alphanumeric or numeric columns, you do not enter information directly into the calculated column.
To enter the formula that will be used to calculate the grades:
- From the Control Panel, click Manage Course, and then click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- Under the calculated column name, click Formula. The Calculation Editor appears. It consists of four components:
- Formula box. Note: Use the numeric keypad, Column tool, and Function tool to enter and edit the formula. You cannot edit the Formula box by selecting, entering, or deleting characters with your mouse and keyboard.
- numeric keypad
- Column tool
- Function tool
To edit the formula for a calculated column:
- From Manage Students, in the Student table, under the calculated column name, click Formula. The Calculation Editor appears.
- Here are some guidelines on using the Calculation Editor.
- To enter numbers and arithmetic operators, use the numeric keypad.
- To enter a list of items:
- Click Start List.
- From the Column drop-down list, select the item and click Insert.
- To enter another item, click Next Item.
- To end the list, click End List.
- To make a calculation after you have entered the formula, click Update.
- To clear the last value entered in the Formula box, click CE on the numeric keypad.
- To clear all values from the Formula box, click C on the numeric keypad.
- In the Formula text box, enter the formula to calculate the grade and click Update. The Manage Student screen appears.
To override a grade in a calculated column:
To override a grade in a calculated column, you must edit the formula used to calculate the grade. The new formula applies only to the individual student. The new grade appears in gray to indicate it was changed.
- From Manage Students, in the Student table, under the Last Name column, click the name of the student whose grade you want to override. The Edit Record screen appears.
- In the calculated column, click Override. The Calculation Override screen appears. The Global Formula appears above the formula box. This is the formula used to generate the original grade.
- Enter the formula for the new grade.
- Click Update. The Edit Record screen appears with the new grade.
Text Columns
You can add information about each student to the Student table. The information can contain letters and numbers and occupy several lines (e.g., addresses or comments). You do this by adding a text column and then entering the information into the column.
To enter the information in the column:
- In the breadcrumbs, click Manage Students. The Manage Students screen appears.
- In the Student table, select the student record by clicking the student's last name. The Edit Record screen appears.
- Under the text column, click Create. A new browser window opens.
- Click Edit. The text box editor appears.
- In the text box, enter the data and then click Update. The text box editor appears with the information.
- Click Close. The Edit Records creen appears.
- Click Update. The Manage Students screen appears with a View button added to the text column for that student.
To editing a text column:
- From Manage Students, in the Student table, under the text column, click the View button for the student whose record you want to edit. A new browser window opens.
- Click Edit. The text box editor appears.
- Edit the information and then click Update. A preview of the text appears.
- Click Close. The Manage Students screen appears.
