The automatic zero grading feature allows Brightspace to automatically apply a grade of zero (0) to supported overdue activities and distinguish system-applied zeros from zeros entered manually by instructors.
The feature includes the following functions:
- Automatically assigning a grade of zero (0) to supported course activities that are past due.
- Auto-tagging the system-applied zero so it can be differentiated from a zero entered manually by an instructor.
Automatic zero grading is off by default.
How automatic zero grading works
When automatic zero grading is enabled, Brightspace evaluates supported activities with due dates and automatically assigns a grade of zero (0) after the due date or special access due date passes, unless another condition prevents the zero from being applied.
Important: Automatic zero grading only takes effect for supported activities with future due dates. It does not apply retroactively to activities whose due dates have already passed.
On Enter Grades, instructors see an automatically applied zero displayed with a dashed underline. Hovering over the value displays a tooltip indicating that Brightspace applied the zero automatically.
When Automatic Zero is enabled in a course, Brightspace also displays an overdue feedback message to learners in Grades > Comments & Assessments (learner view). The message text is controlled by the language term Grades.UserMain.txtOverdueComment.
By default, learners see the message This activity is overdue, and you haven’t completed it. Complete it now to update your grade. This system message is dynamic and is only displayed until the activity end date. After the end date passes, the message is no longer displayed.
Instructors cannot edit this system-generated overdue message directly from the course. If persistent learner-facing feedback is required, instructors must manually enter feedback comments.
|
Note:- The overdue feedback message does not appear in Data Sets.
- The message is controlled by the language term Grades.UserMain.txtOverdueComment.
|
Before you begin
Automatic zero grading applies only to supported activities with due dates. Before enabling the feature, review your institution’s late submission and grading policies, especially if instructors are allowed to accept overdue work.
Enable automatic zero grading
- From the navbar, click the Gear icon (Admin Tools).
- Click Config Variable Browser.
- In the Search all Variables box, type Zero, and click the Search icon.
- Enable one or both of the following configuration variables, depending on the experience you want to provide.
-
d2l.Tools.Grades.AutomaticZero (OrgUnit)
This variable controls whether Brightspace automatically assigns a grade of 0 to supported overdue activities.
- Scope: OrgUnit
- Purpose: Applies automatic zero grading behavior to one or more courses, depending on where it is enabled.
- Customization: Can be turned ON or OFF for child org units to control automatic zero grading at different levels of the org structure.
- <![CDATA[ ]]>Instructor view: Enabling this variable does not affect whether instructors see the Automatic Zero for Missing Submissions setting in Grades Settings or the Grades Setup Wizard.
-
D2l.Tools.Grades.ShowAutomaticZeroSetting (Org)
This variable controls whether instructors can see the Automatic Zero for Missing Submissions option in Grades Settings and the Grades Setup Wizard.
- When ON: Instructors can view and change the setting in their courses.
- When OFF: Instructors cannot view or change the setting in their courses.
|
Note:
- Make sure to verify the exact casing of the second config variable in your environment (e.g., ShowAutomaticZerosetting vs ShowAutomaticZeroSetting).
- Turning AutomaticZero ON at an org or org-unit level applies the behavior; ShowAutomaticZerosetting only determines whether instructors can see and toggle the setting in their courses.
- The Automatic Zero tag is added to grades applied by the feature so they can be differentiated from manually entered zeros.
|
Configuration scenarios
| Scenario |
d2l.Tools.Grades.AutomaticZero (OrgUnit) |
D2l.Tools.Grades.ShowAutomaticZeroSetting (Org) |
Outcome |
| Automatic zero grading is enabled and visible to instructors |
On |
On |
Automatic zero grading is applied to supported overdue activities.
Instructors can also review and change the setting in their own courses.
|
| Automatic zero grading is enabled and hidden from instructors |
On |
Off |
Automatic zero grading is applied to supported overdue activities.
Instructors cannot see or change the setting in their courses.
|
| Automatic zero grading is disabled by default but visible to instructors |
Off |
On |
Automatic zero grading is not applied by default.
Instructors can enable the setting in their own courses, if appropriate.
|
| Automatic zero grading is disabled and hidden from instructors |
Off |
Off |
Automatic zero grading is not applied.
Instructors cannot see or change the setting in their courses.
|
Edit the default overdue message
The default language appears as “This activity is overdue and you haven’t completed it. Complete it now to update your grade”.
This text assumes an open late submission policy which encourages users to submit and may require editing to suit your own institutional policies.
To customize the default text, edit the language term Grades.UserMain.txtOverdueComment in each supported language pack. For more information, see Customize language terms.
Recommended validation
- Enable the required configuration variable or variables.
- Open a test course where the feature should apply.
- Confirm whether instructors can see the course-level setting, based on your ShowAutomaticZeroSetting configuration.
- Create or identify a supported activity with a due date.
- Ensure the activity due date is in the future, then allow the due date to pass without a submission.
- Verify that:
- the learner receives a zero (0),
- the grade is tagged as an automatic zero in instructor view, and
- the overdue feedback message appears in Grades > Comments & Assessments for the learner.