I don't think you can fairly not tell them their test scores on test 4. You can insist that all tests be taken, and then you will drop the lowest. But you've already set them up for not studying on the last test if they've done well previously. Why should they study? They can fail and it will be no reflection on their grade. You could say that you'll drop the lowest score if it's within "x" number of points of their average grades, but I'd predict you'll get howls of "unfair" because you changed the rules midstream.
I faced exactly this problem years ago when I tried a "drop the lowest test score" routine once. I didn't foresee that students would immediately see the loophole and wangle to skip the final test if they'd done well in earlier ones. I never made that mistake again. (I think we discussed it on TIPS too, but may have been before your time.) My solution, to provide that eternally sought-after motivation (external, of course...bribe? - oh, let's not go there again!!) is to allow them to skip the final if their average is 90 or higher. Students love it. It's also incentive not to skip a test, because doing so takes them out of the running for skipping the final, no matter how high their other test grades. I point out to them that if their average is 90-93, this is not an A, but rather an A- or AB. If they want to try for a solid A (94-100), they can take the final without negative effect should they not do well. In all the years I've offered this, I've only had one student take me up on my offer. Her average, as I recall, was 91. But she got a 73 or so on the final, and admitted to me that she'd had no incentive to study at all and decided to take the exam on the off-chance that it would be easy. Ah, motivation is a slippery thing... Beth Benoit University System of New Hampshire on 4/9/02 8:39 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > One of my students have A's so far in 3 exams and there are two exams left.The > student is scheduled to take exam 4 next week.She wanted to know that if she > aced the next exam,if she can skip exam 5,since I drop the lowest score. I > want students to take all exams even though I drop the lowest score. > So I am toying with the idea of giving them exam 4 and not telling them what > their scores are on exam 4,until after they have taken exam 5. > Is this ok? > > Michael Sylvester,PhD > Daytona Beach,Florida > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
