Comments on: On Averaging Grades http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/ Philosopher, Computer Ethicist, Web Developer Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:24:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Kacytrutt http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-37764 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 01:05:19 +0000 http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-37764 All pizza places of USA http://pizza-us.com/ohio/Warrensville%20Hts/ Find your best pizza. All pizza places of USA http://pizza-us.com/ohio/Warrensville%20Hts/

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]]> by: Andrew Cullison http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-877 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:19:56 +0000 http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-877 Here's an added complication to the above suggestion that might go all the way to doing what Thom envisions. You have variable weights. If the student's final paper represents a significant enough improvement, then you drop the first paper, or redistribute the weight between the first and last paper - so that the first paper is weighted even less than 10% But you would have very stringent standards as to which students could get rewarded with this modification. Your first paper doesn't get dropped/weighted less unless you get an A. The idea being that only super-meritorious work blots out poor performance in the past. I already do something like this (but not as extreme). The students have two papers weighted equally at the start of the semester (plus tests etc..). When I hand back the first paper, I announce to students that they have the option of having the second paper carry more weight than the previous paper if the second paper is an improvement. Students work much harder on that second paper. Here’s an added complication to the above suggestion that might go all the way to doing what Thom envisions.

You have variable weights. If the student’s final paper represents a significant enough improvement, then you drop the first paper, or redistribute the weight between the first and last paper - so that the first paper is weighted even less than 10%

But you would have very stringent standards as to which students could get rewarded with this modification.

Your first paper doesn’t get dropped/weighted less unless you get an A.

The idea being that only super-meritorious work blots out poor performance in the past.

I already do something like this (but not as extreme). The students have two papers weighted equally at the start of the semester (plus tests etc..). When I hand back the first paper, I announce to students that they have the option of having the second paper carry more weight than the previous paper if the second paper is an improvement.

Students work much harder on that second paper.

]]> by: thomblake http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-873 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:50:41 +0000 http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-873 Assuming we went with this scheme, and made the 5th paper worth 50%, my calculations would then put Andy at a D+ and Ben at a B-. Possibly the right grade for Andy but I think given the stories I've told, Ben deserves better. And if we make Ben's first paper a 0 instead of a 55, his overall grade under this scheme drops to a C+. EDIT: Note that the grades don't add up to 100% here; I'm assuming you then go ahead and divide by 1.5 or however you'd like to do the math.. Assuming we went with this scheme, and made the 5th paper worth 50%, my calculations would then put Andy at a D+ and Ben at a B-. Possibly the right grade for Andy but I think given the stories I’ve told, Ben deserves better. And if we make Ben’s first paper a 0 instead of a 55, his overall grade under this scheme drops to a C+.

EDIT: Note that the grades don’t add up to 100% here; I’m assuming you then go ahead and divide by 1.5 or however you’d like to do the math..

]]> by: Buck http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-872 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:50:35 +0000 http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-872 I like Andrew's solution on the face of it at least... I've had a number of teachers who would weigh later papers more, or modify the previous papers' grading scale based on improvement over the semester. (I saw this a LOT in art and music classes and basically never in english lit, for example.) I like Andrew’s solution on the face of it at least… I’ve had a number of teachers who would weigh later papers more, or modify the previous papers’ grading scale based on improvement over the semester. (I saw this a LOT in art and music classes and basically never in english lit, for example.)

]]> by: Andrew Cullison http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-870 Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:42:48 +0000 http://thomblake.com/2008/12/19/on-averaging-grades/#comment-870 Hi Thom, One option would be to weight the assignments differently. First Paper - 10% Second Paper - 20% Third Paper - 30% Fourth Paper - 40% That may introduce other worries, but it would handle the intuition that Ben's overall grade should be higher than Andy's Hi Thom,

One option would be to weight the assignments differently.

First Paper - 10%
Second Paper - 20%
Third Paper - 30%
Fourth Paper - 40%

That may introduce other worries, but it would handle the intuition that Ben’s overall grade should be higher than Andy’s

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