Get Your Students Hired
Grading exams promptly makes good sense as any remedial or rehabilitative work which needs to be done to assist students can be known based on the student performance. It also provides a platform for the student to see how well they are doing and how much they have absorbed and which area needs improvement
Rick,
This not a practice I embrace. Although I don't expect any cheating, I also don't want to subject students to unnecessary temptation. Also, sometimes there is subjectivity in grading that is difficult to delegate to student graders. If students were to follow a grading rubric, that might be acceptable and productive in that it would allow a discussion with the student doing the grading to clarify their "interpretation" of their assessment.
Barry Westling
Diane,
The sooner we can get material graded and returned will help students identify weaker areas, misunderstanding, mistakes made, and immediate correction.
Barry Westling
I'm curious about thoughts on when students are eager to see how they did on an exam or quiz, allowing them to grade one another's exams (that you, as the instructor, will still review for accuracy). Is this a privacy violation and if not, what techniques are recommended to make sure there is no cheating. By the way, the class size is very small.
I agree how important this is for the student. Waiting is something that can make you doubt yourself.
B.,
Immediate feedback is vital, as important as the delivery of instruction. It's vital to try to reinforce the correct r4sponsews, and clear up mistakes or incorrect responses as soon as possible.
Barry Westling
I try to grade the same day when possible but next class meeting is typical. I hand back test papers then go through each question and discuss/explain each answer. It gives the students an oportunity to explain why they chose a particular answer. If the question was ambiguous, the class gets the point and I learn how to write a better question.
Jeremy,
Exactly. Reinforcement of right thinking, problem solving, or recall of facts is needed, sooner than later. To me, getting assignments graded and returned is among the more important daily tasks.
Barry Westling
A quick turnaround on exam grading is paramount. The longer a student has that wrong answer in their head, the harder it is to correct that wrong answer!
Jean,
It's understandable that students will want to know their grade status on assignments and tests. Understanding this, I state exactly how, when, and where grades will be posted. This information is in my syllabus, and I have students "agree" that the process is reasonable on day 1. Of course, I have to adhere to my own policies as well.
Barry Westling
Grading anything ASAP is good practice, of course.
However, I often have students who neglect to turn in assignments on time, or they miss a quiz or exam, and take days/weeks to make it up. Then they are super anxious to know what their grade is. And I feel like....you were so disinterested in completing this work, why should I have to drop everything to make sure it's graded "now".
Haha. Pitfalls of the trade, I guess.
Kurt,
Same day graded test returns is optimal, especially if students can review the test as well, ask questions, and strengthen their understanding of missed questions.
Barry Westling
I totally understand a student’s desire to find out how they might have done on a test. Prompt grading is a must. My students “chomp†at the bit waiting for their scores. I actually try to return their test scores that same day is possible.
GETA,
I try to get any graded assignment or test back to students as soon as possible. I can also use the "assessment" activity as a "discussion" activity, and use an activity with a dual purpose. But this is most effective if material is returned promptly to students.
Barry Westling