I talk to my students about mean grade and median grade and how to calculate it. It helps so they understand that their grade is not arbitrary. It has to be backed up by data despite the fact that I teach in the arts.
Ryan,
That is true and we will see more of that with the new rules of student financial aid. Students will stay to the bitter end.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Unfortunately in my classes the mean grade is often skewed by the students who are not participating in the course but did not drop the class in time.
Catherine,
You have great points. I think a mean grade is fine and most LMS's have the ability to do that again if the student knows what it means.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have occasionally disclosed how many students earned high grades or how many did not. I often use the feature of a quiz in a different learning platform that lets the students see how many students got an answer right or wrong. I use that feature as we review the quiz so that they can see, along with me, if it looks like a question was a particular problem - either because I did not cover the concept well or if it was simply a poorly worded question. I think disclosing a mean grade would be OK, if the student's understood what it meant. However, I don't think I would choose to disclose it. If the grades were really low the students might see it as an excuse for their low grade. I believe that grades are individual.
Shrese,
I think it is fine if the understand what the mean grade is. You will want to explain why you are doing and what it means. I don't think you can take that for granted.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
