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 and the calculation of Weighted Average Mark
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. Competency achieved / Pass Competency not achieved / fail Continuing Enrolment - Enrolment activity end date occurs in a future collection year Credit Transfer Non-assessable enrolment - Satisfactorily Completed Non-assessable enrolment - Withdrawn or not satisfactorily Completed Recognition of Current Competency - granted Recognition of Current Competency - not granted Recognition of Prior Learning - Granted Recognition of Prior Learning - Not Granted Result not yet available - Module is scheduled for Completion in the current collection year Withdrawn
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.

Weighted Average Mark (WAM)

Be Advised

The Weighted Average Mark (WAM) calculation requires the following fields to be populated within Paradigm:

Grade description (unit enrolment)
The raw numerical mark (unit enrolment)
Credit point (grade schema)
GPA (grade schema)

Note

Weighted Average Mark calculates based on the rule that when a unit enrolment has been assigned a published grade that has a Grade Point value attached on the associated grade schema.

You can check that by going to System > Search Grade Type > Search for UNIT_GRADE, check whether there is Grade Points set against each Grade.

Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is calculated based on a student’s actual marks (e.g. 58, 65 and so on) and the year level and weighting level defined at each base unit. If no weighting level is defined at the base unit then the system will assume a weighting of one.

Here is the detailed calculation method the system follows:

Multiply the unit mark by unit credit point value and then by the year level weighting
Sum the resulting values (weighted marks)
Multiply the unit credit point value by the year level weighting
Sum the resulting values (weighted credit points)
Divide the sum of the weighted marks by the sum of the weighted credit points
Calculate to three decimal places.

You can find the Calculate WAM button locate on the student’s course enrolment page.

Unit	Credit Points	GPA	Weighting Level	Mark	Grade	Included In WHAM	First Sum	Second Sum
WHAM101	12	0	1	22	F	Yes	12 X 1 X 22 = 264	12 x 1 = 12
WHAM102	12	4	1	78	D	Yes	12 x 1 X 78 = 936	12 x 1 = 12
WHAM103	12		1	90	HD	NO	NA	NA
WHAM104	12	2	1		E	NO	NA	NA
WHAM105	12	3		68	C	YES	12 x 1 x 68 = 816	12 x 1 = 12
WHAM106		5	2	99	HD	NO	NA	NA
WHAM107	12	6	2	91	HD	YES	12 x 2 x 91 = 2184	12 x 2 = 24
WHAM108	8	4	2	80	D	YES	8 x 2 x 80 = 1280	8 x 2 = 16
Totals							5480	76

Using the above the table the WHAM is calculated as follows: 5480 / 76 = 72.10

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	HD DN CR Pass NGP Concede Pass Withheld
Failed	Fail
Exempt	RPL RPE Credit for Prior Learning
Incomplete	Incomplete
Withdrawn	WD (Withdrawn) WN (Withdrawn Not Failed) WPC (Withdrawn Pre-Census) WF (Withdrawn Fail)
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

1. How to search for Grade types

Click on the System tab in the side menu
Click on the Search Grade Type in the side menu
Click on the Search Grade Type button
Select on the Blue hyperlink next to the Grade type to be viewed (e.g. Assessment Grade, Competency Grade or Unit Grade)
The individual grades within that grade type are now displayed on the screen

2. How to Add Grade Types

Load all Grade Types by following the steps in the How to Search Grade Types section above.
Click the blue hyperlink next to the Grade Type to be viewed (e.g. Assessment Grade, Competency Grade or Unit Grade)
Click on the Add Grade button
Enter the new data into all of the required fields
Click on the Save Grade button

3. How to Edit Grade Types

Load all Grade Types by following the steps in the How to Search Grade Types section above.
Click the blue hyperlink next to the Grade Type to be viewed (e.g. Assessment Grade, Competency Grade or Unit Grade)
The individual grades within that Grade Type are now shown in a list on the screen
Click on the Edit icon next to the Grade Type to be edited
Update the required fields
Click on the Save Grade button

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Search, Add and Edit Grades and Grade Types