Managing Grade Expectation
California student recently sued his school and teacher for earning grade of C+;see link below. How can we manage student grade expectation because everyone expects to make "A" even with mediocre performance?
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/07/calif-student-sues-teacher-district-over-c-grade/
Grace,
Specific and timely feedback is the standard. Specificity significantly enhances student learning.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I would like to speak to the "grey area" here that Christopher has mentioned. The stronger my rubric the less shades of grey exist. I have found that when I am general in my assessment or feedback - I have opened up a grey area for the student. When I specifically state in the grading feedback that the points that have been deducted are for 1) mechanics - grammar and spelling 2) APA criteria not being adhered to 3) content - not substantive in discussion and analysis 4) format (no title page no abstract, no headings and have listed the actual points deducted for each - I have left no room for grey area.
Christopher,
You brought up many good points. Do you have an opinion about ways to enhance the objectivity? Thank you for your contribution.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
I agree that the rubric needs to be detailed and explain the grading. The difficulty is that in a lot of assignments there is still a high degree of subjectivity that enters into the equation. A math question has only one correct response. Open ended questions that are used to spark the conversation often have "shades of grey" elements that are still graded at the sole discretion of the instructor; and as long as we have these grey areas we will most likely have students who feel their work merits a higher grade. Assessments need to be more objective than subjective; in doing so the expectations may be more appropriately set and measured.
Austin,
Thank you very much for your several insightful contributions to this forum.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
Dr. Vaillancourt.
Thank you for your very informative perspective on this very relevant academic topic.
Austin
Austin,
This is another of your VERY good discussion posting here that (IMHO) do not have singular, straightforward answers. My 'quick-n-dirty' answer to this one is that we continue to clearly document the rubric for each assignment and provide it to the students to accurately set expectation. Then when all of the 'experts' assisting in the case review the materials, there should be no question that the student's performance deserved the grade as it was assigned. The final answer is, of course, anyone can sue anyone for anything they desire in today's society, as long as the court deems the case to be reasonable for trial. Each individual case has to stand on its own merits.
Dr. S. David Vaillancourt
