In the event that I have made myself sound overly harsh on an international forum for expecting my students to calculate their own grades . . . I work at a moderately selective school with an average SAT score of about 1250. They are mastering the educational system well. When I worked at a less selective school, I did help the students figure out where they stood.
Joe Joseph J. Horton, Ph. D. Box 3077 Grove City College Grove City, PA 16127 724-458-2004 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> In God we trust, all others must bring data. From: Rob Weisskirch [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 12:07 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: Re:[tips] Where do I stand in the course? Was: Please check my paper BEFORE you grade it TIPSfolk, In reading this thread, I see the annoyance in responses to students. But, at the same time, students wouldn't ask where they stand in a course if they did not know. Yes, they may have the graded work, and yes, they can calculate their standing. However, from a student's perspective, he/she may have 5 or more courses with different ways in which grades are calculated (e.g., each assignment is a percentage or points, an assignment can be dropped, attendance may or may not count). I agree that posting grades on a course management system alerts them to their grades and provides access to them. I, in addition, handout their grades 3/4 of the way through the semester and calculate how many points out of what remains they need for an A, A-, B+, etc. With this slip of paper, they can see exactly where it is likely they will end up given their past performance and how, if they hunker down towards the end, they can move up a grade. I think it is easy to forget that, as professors, we are the success stories of academia. We managed to figure out this kooky system, be successful, and advance to our current positions. Many students are still in the process of figuring out the system--compassion from us can help them learn about the system as well as the content of our courses. Rob Rob Weisskirch, MSW. Ph.D. Associate Professor of Human Development Certified Family Life Educator Liberal Studies Department California State University, Monterey Bay 100 Campus Center, Building 82C Seaside, CA 93955 (831) 582-5079 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> This message is intended only for the addressee and may contain confidential, privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy or disclose any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13276.cca437dfff11995edc035566eabec9a7&n=T&l=tips&o=8342 (It may be necessary to cut and paste the above URL if the line is broken) or send a blank email to leave-8342-13276.cca437dfff11995edc035566eabec...@fsulist.frostburg.edu<mailto:leave-8342-13276.cca437dfff11995edc035566eabec...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=8353 or send a blank email to leave-8353-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
