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Changing Grade Book Calculation Method of Final Grade

We have a suggestion for improving the manner in which the Populi GradeBook calculates the final grade of a student in a course. 
The problem now is that the student sees an unrepresentative final grade from the time a first grade is entered until all grades are entered at the end of the semester. This occasions much consternation among newer students who have not yet figured this out. The current calculation also confuses some of the professors, who do not understand how it works. 
Below is an algorithm that may address that problem. I hope that you find it useful and can implement it in Populi to improve the Grade Book function. 
Thank you, 

Daniel G. Van Slyke, S.T.L., Ph.D.
Academic Dean of Online Learning and Associate Professor of Theology

flecte quod est rigidum, fove quod est frigidum, rege quod est devint

 

 

Calculating the Grade Average in Populi 

 

Current Variables

P =  possible points for the assignment

G =  grade assigned to the assignment

W = assignment weight (%) … treat each as a whole number and not as a % … ie: 5% = 5  or 10% = 10  or 7.5% =7.5 etc.

To avoid any confusion ">=" means  greater than or equal to

New Variables

a) WG =  weighted grade = G/P x W … calculate for all assignments where G>=0 and P >0 (this last stipulation avoids division by 0)

Also IF P=0 then set WG=0

Example … 

For a grade of 9.0 out of a possible 10 weighted  @ 5%  =  9.0  / 10 x 5 = 4.5

For a grade of 9.0 out of a possible 10 weighted @ 10% =  9.0 / 10 x 10 = 9.0

For a grade of 0 out of a possible 10 weighted @  10% = 0 / 10 x 10 = 0.0

Ignore unassigned  grades (G=blanks)

 

b) TWG – total of weighted grades … sum all WG  where G>=0 and P>0

Example … 

 5 assignments,  4 weighted at 5%, one weighted at 10%) …   4.5+4.5+4.5+4.5+ 9.0= 27)

Ignore unassigned  grades (G=blanks)

 

c) TPA =  total possible points where G>=0  … ie 5+5+5+5+10 = 30

 

d) GA = grade average =( (TWG /  TPA) x 100) …   example   (27/30) x 100 = 90%

 

This GA will always be right regardless of the number of assignments graded or the grades assigned, including a grade of 0.

 

3.   General Edits 

a) One can edit an assignment , possible points etc ...  but one cannot edit the weighted %

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