Using Moodle subcategories to enable dropping the lowest grade in heterogeneous categories
If a category in Moodle contains items with different total possible points, the ability to drop the lowest grade is disabled.
In the above image there are learning outcomes attached to the assignments. The learning outcomes are scored based on the number of ratings. There are four ratings being used: optimal, sufficient, suboptimal, and no evidence. Moodle automatically assigns points to ratings in a monotonic sequence. Four rating, four points maximum.
Because the assignment are 30 points and the outcomes are four, dropping the lowest is disabled.
In the above the outcomes are no longer included in the grade aggregation.
But dropping the lowest remains disabled. The code underneath the gradebook still sees the four point student learning outcomes.
One option is to use subcategories. Moving the assignments into one category and the learning outcomes into another restores the ability to drop the lowest grade. Note that all assignments have the same total possible points in the above gradebook.
If assignments have differing total possible points, then a category for each total possible points is necessary. In above gradebook there are 5 point, 10 point, and 15 point items in the activities category. One has to decide which subcategories drop the lowest grade. If all drop the lowest grade, then in the above gradebook the lowest three grades are being dropped, one for each total possible points. In addition, the lowest rating learning outcome is also being dropped.
There is a downside to moving all of the outcomes into their own subcategory: the outcomes are no longer next to their assignment in the gradebook. This can be confusing to say the least.
A previous blog covered how to set up learning outcomes in Moodle. The blog also covered how to export the outcomes ratings from Moodle for import into Nuventive Improve's assessment software.
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