Running Total shows the student’s current performance based on posted grades.
Cumulative Total shows the student’s accumulation of points or weights based on the posted grades.
For example,
A student submits Assignment 1 and receives a perfect score. The assignment is worth 5% of the total grade.
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If Running Total is checked: The student sees their Overall Grade is 100%. |
If Cumulative Total is checked: The student sees their Overall Grade is 5%. |
Considerations when deciding whether to use Running or Cumulative Total:
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The student in the above example may get a false sense of security seeing 100%, when actually, the assignment itself is worth only 5% and they still must complete 95% of the course work. Additionally, their grades will likely drop with each successive submission.
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Alternatively, the student who sees 5% as their cumulative total grade needs to grasp that they have achieved full marks for the one assessment, hence a full 5% is awarded. Their grades will increase over time with each successive submission.
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Either way you decide to go, you must explain this to your students to ensure they understand your grading approach.