0 = 40?? Passing with a 7

Focusing on learning and effort reduces the focus on grades
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1014081.ece
A Florida county is thinking of making 40 the lowest possible grade even if the student does not hand in the work.

"How it would work
The Hernando County School District is considering changes to its grading policy at the elementary school level that would get rid of zeroes and create a minimum F score. Here's how it would work:
• A student who does not turn in an assignment or test would receive a 40 percent.
• A student who turns in a test or assignment and scores, say, a 30 percent would get a 49.30 percent in the gradebook. Adding the actual score after the decimal point is a way for teachers to keep track of what the grade would have been if not for the minimum F policy. "

In Engineering school, due to low averages, a 7 out of 100 on an exam could be a passing grade. Starting at 40 would have more than quintupled some scores on exams we actually took ;)

Adding Character Building to the Dialogue on Grades and Effort

Huge Response to NYT Article re: Student Expectations

The New York Times published seven letters today relating to last week's article (which was the most emailed article for at least a day or two). Most of the letters were focused on the reward of effort with a grade.

The reward of effort is the character building and internal self-confidence that are boosted by hard work and perseverance. It would be terrific if the dialogue on this topic would include the non-grade related payoff. When I have posted about effort and learning are among the top benefits of technical content, grades have not been mentioned.

There is a great visual in the NYT OpEd next to these 7 letters that says:
90 - 100 A
80-90 A
70-80 A
60-70 B+
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/opinion/l23grades.html?_r=1&ref=opinion

Last week, I posted the distribution of grades in engineering courses...(see 2/18 blog below)...oops, I forgot to mention how much grades depended on the class average (usually far below 50). This hardens the learner as the 'easy' A is just never there and the payoff is looking longer horizon toward the degree, job possibilities, life lessons...rather than embarassment, a lot of camaderie was constructed by exchanging test score information (that were so LOW). You hoped for a C but sometimes, a D was for diploma -- you got your 3 credits toward your degree...Engineering schools do this on purpose to build mental toughness and it works although some drop out not because they are asked toleave but rather because they are used to getting As.

Thanks Syracuse University L.C. Smith College of Engineering!

The Easy A vs. Learning & Effort

(click on the title to see the New York Times Education article)
"Student Expectations Seen as Causing Grade Disputes"

A de-emphasis on grades helps learners, parents, teachers and society focus on effort and learning which are the true goals of education.

Well-intentioned parents can unintentionally discourage students from furthering their studies in Math and Science as technical courses tend not to be easy As (or even hard As). In engineering school, many professors distribute the grades as follows: 10% A, 20%B, 40%C, 20% D, 10%F. Getting used to the possibility of a C is an important life lesson that speaks of effort and learning.