Evaluating Grading Methods: Are F's Too Significant?

1. Grading Considerations • Value of F’s • Should they weigh more than other grades?????

2. Grading Considerations • Values of F’s • Should F’s be 0…59, D’s 60-69, C’s 70-79, etc. ? • Notice that the range of F’s is six times the range of any of the other grades • Should F’s be the same range as the other grades? • This could be accomplished by using an A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0 • This could be accomplished by having an A=95, B=85, C=75, D=65, F=55, and Z=0

3. Letter Grades vs. Numeric Grades What happens when students earn a zero or low F? Grades using numeric entries Notice there is one A, one C, two D’s and one F.

4. Letter Grades vs. Numeric Grades What happens when students earn a zero or low F? Grades using letter grade entries Notice there is one A, two B’s and two C’s. and no D’s or F’s.

5. Letter Grades vs. Numeric Grades What happens when students earn a zero or low F? Let’s compare the two: Grades using numeric entries Grades using letter grade entries

6. Let’s consider the following: Let’s ask two students which way they would like to be graded: • Student Joe had an 80%, 90%, and 90% on his first three tests • Student Sue had a 100%, 89%, and 89% on her first three tests

7. Let’s consider the following: • Numeric Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points • 260 / 3 = 86.7% or a B • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points • 278 / 3 = 92.7% or an A

8. Let’s consider the following: • Letter Grade Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points • B + A + A = • 3 + 4 + 4 = 11 • 11/3 = 3.7 or A • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points • A + B + B = • 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 • 10 / 3 = 3.3 or B

9. Let’s compare the two methods: • Letter Grade Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% • B + A + A = • 3 + 4 + 4 = 11 • 11/3 = 3.7 or A • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% • A + B + B = • 4 + 3 + 3 = 10 • 10 / 3 = 3.3 or B • Numeric Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points • 260 / 3 = 86.7% or a B • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points • 278 / 3 = 92.7% or an A

10. Let’s consider the following: Which method would Joe prefer? Which method would Sue prefer? • Letter Grade Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% or B + A + A = A • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% or A + B + B = B • Numeric Calculation: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points / 3 = 86.7% or a B • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points / 3 = 92.7% or an A

11. Would this method be the most accurate for assessing students? • Calculation with Minumum Score on an Assignment of 50%: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points / 3 = 86.7% or a B • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points / 3 = 92.7% or an A • Al 100% + 100% + 0% = 250* points / 3 = 83.3% or a B

12. Would this method be the most accurate for assessing students? • Calculation with Minumum Score on an Assignment of 50%: • Joe 80% + 90% + 90% = 260 points / 3 = 86.7% or a B • Sue 100% + 89% + 89% = 278 points / 3 = 92.7% or an A • Al 100% + 100% + 0% = 250* points / 3 = 83.3% or a B • *Al’s total points above is not an error. Note that Al received 50 points on the assignment listed above even though his score was a zero. For an extra cost, it is possible to have the gradebook program modified to not accept any points earned less than 50% of the possible points or if a teacher enters a value less than 50% they get a popup message that tells them that the minimum score is 50% and that will be entered into the gradebook for that assignment. • In case you were curious, Al’s average would have been a D without using a minimum score: • Al 100% + 100% + 0% =200 points / 3 = 66.7% or a D

13. Which method do you feel is the fairest assessment for students?