Updated 7/2026 OHM: How do zeros in the Gradebook function for Missed Work

Updated explanation.

For courses after 7/28/26 and Canvas users that do not allow Canvas to set OHM due dates

In July 2026, OHM made a change to how it manages zeroes in the gradebook.

What changed?

Beginning with courses created or copied on or after July 28, 2026, past-due assignments will automatically display as zeros in the gradebook.

How is this different from before?

Previously, past-due assignments appeared as dashes in the gradebook. Although those dashes were already calculated as zeros in student averages, the absence of a clear visual indicator could create confusion about how missing work was reflected in the gradebook.

Displaying a zero instead gives instructors and students a clearer view of course progress and makes it easier to understand the impact of missing work.

Previous view for past due assignments

Updated view for past due assignments

A few questions you may have:

Do I have to turn this feature on?

A: No. This will happen automatically to any courses that were created after July 28, 2026.

Q: Can I turn this feature off?

A: No

Q: Did the grade calculation change?

A: No. Missing work was already factored into student averages as zeros. This update changes how past-due assignments are displayed in the gradebook, making it easier to understand how missing work is reflected.

Q: If I integrate with my Learning Management System (LMS) will the zeros pass to my LMS gradebook?

A: Yes - but there is an exception. Users integrated with Canvas who have selected the option within OHM to “Allow Canvas to set Lumen OHM due dates” will not see the zeros populate in OHM or in the LMS. This is because if Canvas is controlling the due dates we do not have the same ability to process past due. Users who link their OHM course to Canvas and select the setting to allow canvas to set due dates should continue to process past due assessments as they always have by managing zeros in the LMS.

Previous explanation. Courses prior to 7/28/26 and Canvas users who allow Canvas to set OHM due dates

Without Your LMS: How OHM’s Gradebook Works

OHM’s gradebook calculations are made on subsets of the gradebook. For each subset, any blank grades (unattempted assessments) are counted as zero in the gradebook calculation and display as "-" in the gradebook.

Adjusting the subset recalculates the grade based on the assessments that show. For example, viewing only past due grades computes grade category totals based on past due work only.

For students, OHM’s gradebook view depends on what settings the instructor selects. We recommend selecting "Past Due" and "Past Due and Attempted"

For teachers, OHM’s gradebook has five different views:

Past Due items
Past Due and Attempted items
Available Items Only
Past Due and Available items
All items

With Your LMS: How OHM's Gradebook Works

Whenever students attempt a problem in OHM, grades get queued up to be sent to the Learning Management Systems (LMS) every few minutes. If a student never attempts an assignment, the corresponding grade book item in your LMS will show as “null” or “--”.

Most LMSs will not count null grades negatively against the students’ overall grade. Grades will update within the LMS once an activity or assessment has been started. As students continue to work, grades will update within the LMS.

Manual Workaround

If a student has not begun their work and the assessment is past due, faculty might consider entering a zero within the LMS to allow course totals to be accurately reflected. Should the student have the opportunity to complete past due work, the grade will be updated accordingly within the LMS.

Your LMS may have the ability to exclude empty grades or to consider empty grades as a zero. We recommend you confer with your LMS admin in regards to the best approach within your LMS instance.

Tip: Some Learning Management Systems allow the user to download their gradebook. You can then use spreadsheet software to replace blank grades with 0. Then upload back into your LMS to in bulk update the blanks to 0s.

Updated 7/2026 OHM: How do zeros in the Gradebook function for Missed Work

How the OHM gradebook calculates zeroes with OHM integrated into your LMS and without the LMS.

Updated explanation.

What changed?

Beginning with courses created or copied on or after July 28, 2026, past-due assignments will automatically display as zeros in the gradebook.

How is this different from before?

Previously, past-due assignments appeared as dashes in the gradebook. Although those dashes were already calculated as zeros in student averages, the absence of a clear visual indicator could create confusion about how missing work was reflected in the gradebook.

Displaying a zero instead gives instructors and students a clearer view of course progress and makes it easier to understand the impact of missing work.

Previous view for past due assignments

Updated view for past due assignments

A few questions you may have:

Do I have to turn this feature on?

A: No. This will happen automatically to any courses that were created after July 28, 2026.

Q: Can I turn this feature off?

A: No

Q: Did the grade calculation change?

A: No. Missing work was already factored into student averages as zeros. This update changes how past-due assignments are displayed in the gradebook, making it easier to understand how missing work is reflected.

Q: If I integrate with my Learning Management System (LMS) will the zeros pass to my LMS gradebook?

Previous explanation. Courses prior to 7/28/26 and Canvas users who allow Canvas to set OHM due dates

Without Your LMS: How OHM’s Gradebook Works

OHM’s gradebook calculations are made on subsets of the gradebook. For each subset, any blank grades (unattempted assessments) are counted as zero in the gradebook calculation and display as "-" in the gradebook.

Adjusting the subset recalculates the grade based on the assessments that show. For example, viewing only past due grades computes grade category totals based on past due work only.

For students, OHM’s gradebook view depends on what settings the instructor selects. We recommend selecting "Past Due" and "Past Due and Attempted"

For teachers, OHM’s gradebook has five different views:

Past Due items

Past Due and Attempted items

Available Items Only

Past Due and Available items

All items

With Your LMS: How OHM's Gradebook Works

Whenever students attempt a problem in OHM, grades get queued up to be sent to the Learning Management Systems (LMS) every few minutes. If a student never attempts an assignment, the corresponding grade book item in your LMS will show as “null” or “--”.

Most LMSs will not count null grades negatively against the students’ overall grade. Grades will update within the LMS once an activity or assessment has been started. As students continue to work, grades will update within the LMS.

Manual Workaround

If a student has not begun their work and the assessment is past due, faculty might consider entering a zero within the LMS to allow course totals to be accurately reflected. Should the student have the opportunity to complete past due work, the grade will be updated accordingly within the LMS.

Your LMS may have the ability to exclude empty grades or to consider empty grades as a zero. We recommend you confer with your LMS admin in regards to the best approach within your LMS instance.

Tip: Some Learning Management Systems allow the user to download their gradebook. You can then use spreadsheet software to replace blank grades with 0. Then upload back into your LMS to in bulk update the blanks to 0s.