math Weighted Grade Book Project

Weighted Grade Book Project
Understanding how weighted averages work will be a very important topic for you in this course, since your grades are determined in this way. In this project, you will create an Excel spreadsheet that can calculate a math 123 student’s final grade. You will then write a reflection paper answering several questions regarding your project.
In this project you are required to do the following:
1. Create an Excel spreadsheet that will be capable of calculating a student’s final grade in this course. Keep in mind that weighting is involved in determining the final grade. Your Excel spreadsheet should contain the following:
□ Your name, course name and project name.
□ The scores provided on the next page
□ The category averages
□ The weights used to determine the final weighted grade for the course – Hint: where might you find this?
□ A labeled cell with the Final course grade that uses a formula which you have created that calculates the weighted average grade for this student. If a value is changed in your spreadsheet, your final calculation should recalculate. Please limit your use of Excel functions to those used in the course-packet (for a list see the ‘Excel Reference sheet’ in Ivy Learn’s ‘Excel Help’ in the Resources Module.
□ In addition to correctly calculating the final grade, your spreadsheet should be easy to read. Make sure the spreadsheet it is well-organized, with clear labels, and helpful formatting.

2. Write a typed reflection paper (minimum one page). Remember that we are looking for responses that are backed by quantitative reasoning and values to support your statements. Make sure that your explanations would be clear broad audience, don’t assume the reader is familiar with the project. The paper should include the following:
□ Your name, course name and project name.
□ An explanation of how the final grade is calculated and how Excel is used in this process. Make sure to explain any formulas used.
□ Analyze and reflect on the results for the student data provided. How did the student do? What is the final course score you determined based on the initial data provided, round to the nearest tenth of a percentage? What letter grade is this?
□ The student regrets receiving zeroes for some of her grades. Use your Excel file to determine if it would have been possible to increase her final course score to the next letter grade by replacing ONE of the zeroes in the gradebook with a higher score. If it is possible for her to get a higher letter grade by replacing one of the zeroes, what is the minimum score needed for the increase and which score you replaced? If not possible, explain why and what evidence you have to prove it. Consider at least two scenarios to answer this question.
□ The student also has questions about how the module quizzes were scored. The scores were originally out of varying point values. The student initially received scores of 25/25, 24/25, 17/20, 47/50 and 0/10. Note that the scores for these quizzes are listed in the data as percentages equivalent to these ratios. Could scoring out of points rather than percentages affect the category average for the quizzes? Explain why or why not.
□ A professor has suggested removing the Review Quiz category from the course completely. Create a new weighting system to adjust for this change. Explain why/how you chose your new weights. How would the student’s grade be impacted by this change?
□ Reflect on the results of your project. What have you learned from doing this project?
In addition to addressing the given statements, your project should:
• Contain a paper that is well organized and in paragraph form (not just bulleted answers!).
• Contain a paper that is clear to someone who is not familiar with the project. (i.e. don’t assume that you are writing this to your instructor, make sure anyone could understand your statements.)
• Give specific values (i. e. quantify statements).
• Provide support for your statements (e.g. explain how values were found and justify statements).
• Contain a spreadsheet using the original grade values given below.
• Use appropriate representations (tables, color, formatting) that will help the reader understand the project.
• Project should make use of Excel functions discussed in this course.
• Project should be your original work. This project is to be completed by individual students. Copying someone else’s work is cheating. Sharing your work with someone else is cheating.
• Submit both an Excel and Word file following your instructor’s directions for submission.
These instructions cover the MINIMUM expectations of this project.

Use the following parameters and scores in your Excel spreadsheet
Refer to your math 123 syllabus for specific grading information and use this in your calculations.
Create an Excel spreadsheet that will compute the following sample student’s data set for a math 123 class. Assume all scores are out of 100 and that all grades have been recorded for this student.
Review Quiz Projects Homework Discussions Section Quizzes Exam 1 Exam 2 Exam 3(Final)
99 94 94 100 100 96 92 90
89 90 98 50 96
80 100 100 85
94 100 94
86 0 0
90 75
88
99
92
0
0
90
92
82