Hi Jim- Thanks for the link to the SFU data. In trying to figure out why there would be such a discrepancy between grades at Langara and SFU I came up with two possibilities. One is retention level. It is not uncommon to see a 25-30% shrinkage in an Intro class at Langara. If percentage of "A"s is calculated using the number of students who enrolled as the base then you will get a markedly different percentage than if you do the calculation based on those who remained. The second factor is how the schools define A, B, C, etc. SFU uses the following criteria: Letter gradeDefinitionNumerical equivalent A+ A A-excellent performance4.33 4.00 3.67 B+ B B-good performance3.33 3.00 2.67 C+ Csatisfactory performance2.33 2.00 C- Dmarginal performance1.67 1.00 Ffail (unsatisfactory performance) 0.00
Langara's definition is quite different: Letter GradeGrade Point EquivalencyInterpretation Approx % Range A+ 4.3 Distinguished Achievement (for consistently demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the course) 96-100 A 4.0 85-95 A- 3.7 80-84 B+ 3.3 Above Average Achievement (for consistently demonstrated above average proficiency in all aspects of the course) 77-79 B 3.0 73-76 B- 2.7 68-72 C+2.3 Satisfactory Achievement (for competent achievement in the course) 63-67 C 2.0 58-62 C-1.7 53-57 D 1.0 Marginal Performance (credit granted but insufficient mastery to proceed to the next level) Letter GradeGrade Point EquivalencyInterpretation Approx % Range A+ 4.3 Distinguished Achievement (for consistently demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the course) 96-100 A 4.0 85-95 A- 3.7 80-84 B+ 3.3 Above Average Achievement (for consistently demonstrated above average proficiency in all aspects of the course) 77-79 B 3.0 73-76 B- 2.7 68-72 C+2.3 Satisfactory Achievement (for competent achievement in the course) 63-67 C 2.0 58-62 C-1.7 53-57 D 1.0 Marginal Performance (credit granted but insufficient mastery to proceed to the next level) Letter GradeGrade Point EquivalencyInterpretation Approx % Range A+ 4.3 Distinguished Achievement (for consistently demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the course) 96-100 A 4.0 85-95 A- 3.7 80-84 B+ 3.3 Above Average Achievement (for consistently demonstrated above average proficiency in all aspects of the course) 77-79 B 3.0 73-76 B- 2.7 68-72 C+2.3 Satisfactory Achievement (for competent achievement in the course) 63-67 C 2.0 58-62 C-1.7 53-57 D 1.0 Marginal Performance (credit granted but insufficient mastery to proceed to the next level) 48-52 Letter GradeGrade Point EquivalencyInterpretation Approx % Range A+ 4.3 Distinguished Achievement (for consistently demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the course) 96-100 A 4.0 85-95 A- 3.7 80-84 B+ 3.3 Above Average Achievement (for consistently demonstrated above average proficiency in all aspects of the course) 77-79 B 3.0 73-76 B- 2.7 68-72 C+2.3 Satisfactory Achievement (for competent achievement in the course) 63-67 C 2.0 58-62 C-1.7 53-57 D 1.0 Marginal Performance (credit granted but insufficient mastery to proceed to the next level) 48-52 Especially note the differences in the "B" range. To get into this range at Langara you have to be "above average" while at SFU you only need to be "good". Looks like the Lake Woebegon effect to me. -Don. Letter GradeGrade Point EquivalencyInterpretation Approx % Range A+ 4.3 Distinguished Achievement (for consistently demonstrated excellence in all aspects of the course) 96-100 A 4.0 85-95 A- 3.7 80-84 B+ 3.3 Above Average Achievement (for consistently demonstrated above average proficiency in all aspects of the course) 77-79 B 3.0 73-76 B- 2.7 68-72 C+2.3 Satisfactory Achievement (for competent achievement in the course) 63-67 C 2.0 58-62 C-1.7 53-57 D 1.0 Marginal Performance (credit granted but insufficient mastery to proceed to the next level) 48-52 ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Clark Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009 11:31 am Subject: Re: [tips] To curve or not to curve To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" > Hi > > As I noted, I am not sure where I got those figures, but if you > look at following report (e.g., page 6), you will see that %As > is quite high at Simon Fraser University, especially in > Education. So figures reported are not out of line with some > universities. > http://www.sfu.ca/irp/Students/grades_report/documents/grades.report.pdf > > Take care > Jim > > James M. Clark > Professor of Psychology > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > [email protected] > > >>> Don Allen 08-Oct-09 11:20:07 AM >>> > Hi Jim- > > I find that these percentages are remakably high. I just went > over my grade distributions for the last several years and > calculated the percentage of "A" grades (Including A-, A and A+) > to be about 6-7% for both my Intro and Research Methods classes. > I used a fixed grading system with 85% as the cut off point for > the "A" range. Few, if any, of my students considered me to be a > "hard marker". I'm sure that if I had handed in a grade > distribution with even 25% "A"s I would have had a conversation > with the department chair. Are you sure that those numbers are > correct? > -Don. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Jim Clark > Date: Thursday, October 8, 2009 8:49 am > Subject: Re: [tips] To curve or not to curve > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" > > > Hi > > > > James M. Clark > > Professor of Psychology > > 204-786-9757 > > 204-774-4134 Fax > > [email protected] > > > > >>> "michael sylvester" 08-Oct-09 > > 9:03:09 AM >>> > > Is there evidence that adjuncts give more of the A grade than > > regular faculty? > > > > I forget now where I got it from but here are data from a talk > a > > did here a few years ago. > > > > %As by Course Level > > For course levels 1, 2, and 3 > > - Full 26% 31% 35% > > - Assistant 30% 45% 42% > > - Adjunct 38% 50% 42% > > > > As to why more As for adjuncts, that is another question. > > > > Take care > > Jim > > > > > > --- > > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > > > Don Allen > Dept. of Psychology > Langara College > 100 W. 49th Ave. > Vancouver, B.C. > Canada V5Y 2Z6 > Phone: 604-323-5871 > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > Don Allen Dept. of Psychology Langara College 100 W. 49th Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Canada V5Y 2Z6 Phone: 604-323-5871 --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
