Get Your Students Hired
Consistency in grading is important to a successful student experience. Students need to know what is expected of them to earn standard grades, makeup work and extra credit. How can we as teachers self-evaluate on these and hold ourselves to the highest standards?
I agree.we have a ten phase program where each phase compliments the other and at times when grading consistancy is broken a student goes to the next phase without the skills required to pass the next phase.
Danny,
This can be a difficult tas at time. I work with general education, science, clinical, lab science, and core profession instructors. Sometimes it seems they all have different ideas about how and what should be graded, and what weight to place on assignments.
Barry Westling
I agree completly..... The students need to be able to know they are being graded fairly & eavenly by all instructors.
David,
Coaching students along, as you describe, seems to provide a very thoughtful and methodical way to keep students informed and on track.
Barry Westling
Here is how I handle consistency in grading:
1) I cover the course syllabus on day one of class
2) On the 2nd day of class, I give my students a specific outline of everything that we will cover until the first test
3) I give the students their first test
4) I then repeat steps 2-3 throughout the entire course
My main goal is to keep students on task from one topic to another. This way they have a course game plan to follow. This is what I call the "coaching approach" to teaching.
Mike,
I think using grading rubrics helps reduce subjectivity. Relating tests and quizzes to course objectives can also assure we are not straying too far from core material students need to use. One activity is to ask a trusted colleague to assess the existing grading system for consistency and accuracy.
Barry Westling