Objective
This article provides detailed workflows in how to search/add/edit Grades and Grade types within the Paradigm system.
Complexity: MEDIUM
Page Contents
Assumptions
You have the level of access required to access the System tab.
You have an understanding that making changes within this function can have system wide implications.
You have an understanding of the grading system at your institution.
You have an understanding of the Australian Tertiary Education System / VET Sector.
Key terms and concepts
Grade Types
Field Name | Description |
|---|---|
Assessment Grade | Grades that can be achieved for an individual assessment item |
Competency Grade | Competency based learning grading |
Unit Grade | Grades that are achieved at the completion of a unit |
Grade Point Average / Grade Point | A grade point average is a number representing the average value of the accumulated final grades earned in courses over time. More commonly called a GPA, a student's grade point average is calculated by adding up all accumulated final grades and dividing that figure by the number of grades awarded. |
Fields within the Grade types
Field Name | Brief Overview |
|---|---|
Grade Id | Internal system id code that identifies the grade |
Grade Type Id | Internal code that identifies the type of grade |
Grade | Abbreviated code for the grade e.g. HD, DN CR |
Grade Point | The number of points contributed to the grade point average |
Max Grade Points | |
Order | The order or sequence number for the grade to appear in the drop box |
Visible | Is the grade visible Yes (ready for use) No (Archived / not in use) |
Description | Full name of the grade e.g. High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, etc. |
Minimum Mark | The minimum percentage grade required to achieve this grade |
Maximum Mark | The maximum percentage grade required to achieve this grade |
Results Status Id | The unit status that is paired with this grade e.g. when setting a passing grade the status should be "Completed", and when setting a failing grade the status should be "Fail". |
Contributes to Credit Points | Indicates whether this result contributes to a grade point average |
Unit Results Grade | |
Outcome Identifier - National | The AVETMISS compliant national code for this grade that identifies this result.
|
Allowed to Recalculate | |
Final mark Result |
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grade Point Average (GPA) is a summary statistic that represents a student’s average performance in their studies over a stated period of time, such as one semester or over the entire course. GPAs are numbers that are often calculated to two decimal places. They are used as indicators of average grade (numerically) to provide a less ambiguous and more concrete measure of student performance than a lettered grade. GPA is also used for sorting groups of students into rank order for awards and merits.
The acronym GPA stands for grade point average, which requires the allocation of grade points to each unit enrolment outcome. Specifically, this involves allocating a grade point value (e.g. 5) to a specific letter score (e.g. credit). Australian providers differ on the exact grade point scale to use, but the process is always the same. We implemented GPA in a way that reflects industry practice. You may define your own GPA scale by adding the relevant information to the grade schema defined in the user interface, Go to SYSTEM > Search Grade Type > search for UNIT_GRADE >Edit Grade points against each Grade type.
Grades and Enrolment Status Codes
Certain grades need to be paired with enrolment status codes. e.g a Fail grades needs to be paired with a Failed Status code so that the student is able to re-take the unit again in a subsequent study period and report the failed HEIMS status code for the unit.
Enrolment Status Code | Grade |
|---|---|
Enrolled | No Grade / Select Grade |
Completed |
|
Failed | Fail |
Exempt |
|
Incomplete | Incomplete |
Withdrawn |
|
Audit | Audit |
Multiple Grade Schema
Multiple grades schema can be used in Paradigm at the same time for different Courses. For example a VET level course uses Competency Achieved / Competency not Achieved as opposed to a Higher Education Course that uses the HD, DN, CR, P, F system. When a Course of Study is established, the grade schema to be used for it can be selected as part of the set up. This is achieved by setting the Unit Grade type and the Assessment Grade type options within the Course record. When this option has not been set or selected (the field is left blank) the system will default to using the unit_grade for the grading system.
Percentages and Grades
When final grades are either entered or imported from LMS (e.g. Blackboard or Moodle) the system won't round grades up or down. For example if a CR requires a minimum grade of 60.0 and the student achieves a 59.99 the grade will be recorded as the lower grade of a Pass.
Implications
Warning
Changing any of the grade values will cause historical reports to print according to the new grade values. Consult with your "nominated contact person" or other Paradigm expert before making any changes. If you are the "nominated contact person" or Paradigm expert for your institution and need further help, please consult the Silverband Helpdesk for more information.
Be Advised
Updating the grading system is not a frequent or regular occurrence, and is usually done when the institution is changing from one grading system to another e.g. from Letters A, B, C, etc. to HD, DN, CR, etc. or when adding a new grading system (e.g Vocational Learning of Competency Achieved, Competency not Achieved.)
Workflow
Further reading
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Advisor Reports (Paradigm Knowledge Base)
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Course Enrolment Files (Paradigm Knowledge Base)
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