Take the focus away from the score
Most of the students that I see passing through my class are more interested in their score on the test than to what the score is telling them. The score only reflects how much of the class material you understood and retained. A low score either shows lack of preparation or lack of mastery of the material. I try to tell my students that what matters is what they learned by the end of the class, not what scores they got on the way, but it's a hard message to drive home.
Hi Cheryl - I remins my students that the short quizzes they take regularly should be used to review for the major tests. Susan
I have noticed the same thing.......some are only interested in the score. I have tried changing that by not calling them "tests" -- try calling them worksheets or quizzes will sound better than a test, especially to those dealing with a lot of anxiety.
That is a good idea! In our culinary program, some students will not agree with your critique of their dishes because they feel that the grade should be on effort alone. but I will have to try asking them to critique the dish themselves first and then have a discussion about it. Thanks!
I agree. The students tend to worry more about what their score will be instead of looking at this as a self-analysis of how they are doing thus far.
I agree we have to de-emphasize the score and emphasize the learning. I often ask students to rate themselves before the see the score on an exam. Most don't give themselves enough credit. It helps to put things in perspective, if as the instructor you keep them focussed on the learning objectives and not just preperation for the final exam.
Grades do matter as long as a society re-inforces this. I agree there needs to be some point of reference to determine if learning objectives are being reached, but at the same time we live in a world that rewards preformance. The letter grades used are just one of many ways in which assessment is made. Honestly I can't see people staying employed if their performance does not meet industry expectation though their transcripts show a 4.0 average.
I begin the class by giving a VERY easy exam early where everyone
gets a good grade. The high grade on their first test seems to motivate them.
This is a difficult sell, trying to tell students grades don't matter. We all grew up hearing grades matter and these kids heard it as well. My kids are the same age as most of the kids we teach and I've always told them and rewarded them for good grades.
Danny
In the CAT section, the minute paper will definitely help pull the students away from grades and push them towards what they are really here for, to gain knowledge! Not only that, it will help you understand what the students are retaining and the most interested in. If you use the minute paper wisely, you can cater your questions to what the students pay attention to and increase their ability to retain what you have talked about.
All of these responses are well thought out and seems that most students are grade driven, it helps set a bench mark for personal satisfaction. However I as well tell our students that they should be driven by the information, not by a grade. This is especially apparent when we have students that get average grades for lack of participation, i.e. absenteeism, although they have a firm grasp on the information when they are present.
Indeed.
I think of a test as another opportunity to learn.
My tests tend to be on the more "difficult" side but in the end, the students learn a lot.
After taking the test, the students understand the subject matter much better. Sometimes I get complaints but, like you, I always ask my students to focus not on the score but on what they've learned.
i find most of the students that pass thru my class are pertified of tests. i deal w/that by creating a curve that is stuctured to every class. when the "scared-to-death-of-the-test" students see that have actually passed a test, it gives them a whole lot of confidence in their abilties as a student. as the class get farther into the session, the grading gets tougher...and what do you know, the grades get better. it's all about self-confidence building. when they leave the school, they will know that they can accomplish anything.
We talk about not making the scores matter so much but we have scores for everything else. We have a score based on their attendance, another based on their practical applications when asking them to produce a finished product. We give them a GPA upon which we base ability to graduate, honor role, graduating with honors and the ability to participate in certain extracurricular activties. After bombarding them with a number for this and a number for that every single day, how do we then turn around and say - "You don't need to worry about THIS number"?
I sometime think that our students believe that the courses they are taking are exactly like the ones they took in high school. This may be the first time in their lives, they had to take book knowledge and apply it to develop their mechanical skills. I have experienced the same behavior from my students as well and as we go through the course, I try to emphasize the importance of comprehending the technique or skills and not just memorizing the terminology or theories.
you are so right Eric. Every class I have those few students who are begging to move their grades up. I always ask them do you feel you realy earned it, how so. In this field have the skills down first, the grades will follow.
OK I do something weird and probably not acceptable I often tell students this. If you are here for a grade there is the door, I do not to teach for you to get a grade I teach for you to get an education. Of course I am not serious about leaving but I have never had to be. The way I run the class there is no discussion about grades until the very end except for the quizes and that is not a large part of the grade here. So by not mentioning or talking about grades I very rarely have students bug me about it. The one thing I do tell them is the only way to not be successful in this class is DONT'T SHOW UP. If you are not here you are not learning and then why are you here if not to learn.
If students concentrate on what is being taught instead of making the grade they will find that the grade follows what they have learned. I agree, it is a hard message to drive home. With some students all they care about is keeping their GPA high and don't care how proficient the are in the skill they need to be successful.
