---- Original message ---- > > If I had applied last year the grading standards > that were applied to me back in the bone age, I > would have flunked the majority of my students. >
I still apply those grading standards! my cut offs for a/b/c/d are what I had as grading standards back in school and that was 93/85/77/70. Knowing less than 70% just is not passing in my classes. Students know it up front. The A is for the truly exceptional students. This is what it used to be, and in my mind as it should continue to be. To earn an A my students really have to have a combination of hard work and ability. Yet I fail almost no one because I allow students to work for mastery--redoing work as many times as it takes to make that 70% grade. But I don't hand it out--it has to be earned, and I do think that every one of us has a pretty good idea of what students should have mastery of. I bet all of our syllabi are fairly similar. So I'm sort of with the tipster who thinks we are moving a bit too far to one side or the other with handing out passing grades too readily. Having said all that, based on what I read on ratemyprofessor about myself, my students do find me quite student-centered despite the high performance standards. Having said all of that then, I'm of a mind with those who think that this student has already been cut a ton of slack. Cutting more slack is not "right". I'm not saying she or he shouldn't graduate, but I am saying the student needs to retake the class first. What's wrong with retaking the class and graduating a semester later? I'm certain he or she can find a full time job and pick up the one class if the problem is one of economics. A job sans a BA in psych can't be too much different from a job with it. And 15 weeks is not a lifetime. AND the student might actually graduate with a better understanding of the knowledge conveyed in the course. So, there's another opinion (my husband says opinions are like a$$&$$es: everyone has one). And they are of no evidence whatsoever. Annette Annette Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4006 [email protected] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
