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Your Grades Suck

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Avatar for Stony Giddens Stony Giddens
June 09, 2021
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Your Grades Suck

Grade inflation, deflation, distortion, curves, lines -- myriad reasons why grading in American secondary education truly sucks, with some ideas how to vastly improve it.

Avatar for Stony Giddens

Stony Giddens

June 09, 2021

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Transcript

  1. YOUR GRADES SUCK BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR

    REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY.
 FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  2. *Ignore the AP/IB/DE 5pt scale for now. Most schools use

    one scale to record grades (100 pt), and another* to report grades (4 pt scale). BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  3. 0 25 50 75 100 F D D+ C C+

    B B+ A 4 Pt Scale 100 Pt scale The two grading scales are very different Minimum grades normed to 100 pts. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  4. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

    50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Minimum grades with 4 pt scale as the Y-axis A B C D F The disparities are clearer mapped to the 4pt scale. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  5. They’re not meant to be directly compared… …obviously!!! BETA VERSION:

    PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  6. Is this math class? Are we still doing the transitive

    property? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  7. The ‘transit’ from 100pt to 4pt is lossy and distorted.

    INPUT OUTPUT BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  8. 0 20 40 60 80 100 0 5 10 15

    20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Grade 100pt Grade Inflation Scale Parity Mapping 100 pts to 4 pts shows transition gains and losses with respect to parity. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  9. -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 0 5

    10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost Pct. Points Gained Graphing net losses and gains in percentage points shows the distortion more clearly. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  10. If a kid does half the work in my class

    … screw ‘em. Try that in the real world! BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  11. If I agree to work 10 hours but oversleep and

    only work 5, and you pay me zero for the five hours I worked… who broke the law? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  12. -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 0 5

    10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost Pct. Points Gained Grade inflation is a small problem in the transition, but grade deflation is worse. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  13. -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15

    70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 Pct. Points Lost Pct. Points Gained The distortion benefits low A students the most, but hurts lower-graded students a lot more. ‘Sweet spot’ for 
 outcome/effort BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  14. -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 0 5

    10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost Pct. Points Gained For A students, grade inflation is built in. For everyone else, grade deflation is built in. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  15. Kids these days — all they do is argue and

    complain about their grades. Just do the work! BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  16. If I get an 89, isn’t it worth like 1/8th

    my final grade to argue for a 90? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  17. 89 90 3.50 3.52 Junior with a 3.5 average, 21

    credits…. 89 90 3.50 3.62 One class from B to A Five classes from B to A 5 points worth of argument = 3% of GPA BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  18. 0 20 40 60 80 100 0 5 10 15

    20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Grade 4pt AP Premium Scale Parity Grade Inflation But what about those AP/IB/DE nerds? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  19. -60 -45 -30 -15 0 15 0 5 10 15

    20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost Pct. Points Gained For AP/BI/DE nerds, grade deflation is a bit less for D and C students, inflation a bit more. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  20. For regular grades compared to the APEBID scale, deflation is

    worse for passing students. -60 -45 -30 -15 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  21. In trying to make the best students look better, we

    screw over the okayest students. -60 -45 -30 -15 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 Pct. Points Lost BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  22. Everyone knows the whole point of the APE — the

    AP/IB/DE scale is to help good students. So what if it hurts the worst students? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  23. If one student takes an AP class, slacks off, and

    gets a 71, and the other takes a regular class and works hard for an 89, how are they the same? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  24. The APEBID premium is biggest for the worst passing students

    in the class… 0 10 20 30 40 50 F D C B A Grade premium as percentage of total grade for AP/IB/DE students BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  25. -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 70 72 74 76

    78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 Yet the premium fully offsets losses only for students scoring 80 (B), and 87, 88, or 89 (B+). BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  26. You ENCOUNTER a Fierce dragon. Do you wish to Proceed

    WITH YOUR QUEST? (Y/n) BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  27. Okay, the transition is a mess. Just report grades on

    the 100 pt scale. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  28. Calibrated… how? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW

    ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  29. “Scores assigned by 147 [English] teachers ranged from 64 to

    98 on the first paper and from 50 to 97 on the second. […] A study of grading found ranges of up to 47 points for grades on the same paper. from On Your Mark, Thomas Guskey, p. 25. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  30. That was over a hundred years ago! BETA VERSION: PLEASE

    DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  31. A recent redo of the study found a slightly better

    result: a range of only 46 points. “Recently Hunter Brimi (2011) replicated Starch and Elliott’s 1912 study and attained identical results. Brimi asked ninety high school teachers who had received nearly twenty hours of training in a writing program to grade the same student paper on a 100-pt percentage scale. Among the seventy-three teachers who responded, scores ranged from 50 to 96.” from On Your Mark, Thomas Guskey, p. 26. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  32. What’s the difference between an 89 and a 90 on

    an English paper? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  33. English teachers… whatever. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR

    REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  34. from On Your Mark, Thomas Guskey, p. 25. “Starch and

    Elliot’s [1912] study was immediately criticized by those who claimed that English teachers are naturally prone to be more subjective in their assessments of student work. [They] repeated their study using geometry papers submitted to mathematics teachers and found even greater variation […] scores assigned by 128 teachers on one mathematics paper ranged from 28 to 95 - a sixty-seven point difference.” Math teachers did worse in the original study: a range of 67 points. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  35. Categorical Ordinal Interval Ratio A A is best! B +

    10 90% B Better than C, 
 but less than A. C + 10 80% C Better than D,
 but less than B. C = D + 10 70% D Better than F, less than C. D = F + 10 60% F F is the worst. F = D - 10 F = 0 Quality———————— ———————>Quantity Using ‘quantity’ numbers to describe
 ‘quality’ work is tricky. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  36. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

    50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 4 pt scale (which is a hard sell from a methodological perspective) A B C D F It’s one thing to assume ordinal scores are ratio data… BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  37. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

    50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 A B C D F But the dual scales explicitly refute that assumption. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  38. Check validity with respect to grade scale. Administer assessments and

    collect data Validate each assessment in pilot test. Develop assessments To make the grading scale work, a teacher has to carefully calibrate their assessments… Map standards to specific outcomes. If invalid, redevelop assessments BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  39. Yeah… so… I’ll just curve the grade if scores are

    too low. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  40. Do you mean “line”? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE.

    FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  41. Same basic problem as the 100-to-4 pt transition: how to

    make scores make sense in a smaller range. Ms. Green’s class 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Curved BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  42. ‘Curving’ grades means fitting the range of scores to a

    normal distribution. Mean (average) 1 standard deviation (SD) below mean. SD describes how ‘spread out’ the data are. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  43. Step 1. Find the average of scores 0 10 20

    30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  44. Step 2. Find the standard deviation 0 10 20 30

    40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  45. Step 3. Choose a grade for the mean 0 10

    20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 80 Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  46. Step 4. Assign grade thresholds to SDs 0 10 20

    30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 90 -1 SD = 70 Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  47. Step 5. Translate scores as ratio of SD 5a. Subtract

    the raw mean from the raw grade 5b. Multiply the difference in 5a by the ratio of the grade interval (i.e. 10) by the raw standard deviation. 5c. Add the product of 5b to the chosen midpoint for grades BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  48. Step 5. Translate scores as ratio of SD 0 10

    20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 90 -1 SD = 70 Notice that nobody gets a 100 in this curve, but nobody fails. Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  49. Nah. Too much math. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE.

    FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  50. Some teachers add points based on the mean. That’s linear.

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 104 -1 SD = 56 Now 7 students get more than 100, and 5 students fail. Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  51. Some teachers add points based on the median. Also linear.

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Median = 46 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Median Median = 80 Now 8 students get more than 100, and 5 students fail. Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  52. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Median = 59 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 Median Median = 80 Mr. Orange’s class Mean = 68 Mean = 80 Lined to Mean Lined to Median The difference is bigger the more ‘lopsided’ the distribution of scores. very different results. Median and mean can produce BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  53. Some teachers set the top grade to 100. Also “lining”

    the grade. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 58 +1 SD = 82 -1 SD = 34 Now more than half the class fails. Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  54. Lining to 100 now makes your entire class’s grade dependent

    on one student’s score.* 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 This nerd right here Mr. Redd’s class *Which is absolutely bonkers. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  55. If that A student has a significantly higher grade, lining

    to 100 doesn’t solve any problems. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 This turbo nerd right here Ms. Purple’s class No more students pass with the line than passed based on raw scores Lined to 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  56. For that turbo nerd, lining to the mean creates grade

    deflation… 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 These students should score over 100. Ms. Purple’s class 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Instead they end up with 100s. Where the top student did 28 pts. better than the 9th best, now their
 grades are the same. Lined to 100 Lined to mean BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  57. … which is likely to lead to effort deflation, whether

    for intrinsic reasons or peer pressure. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Former a-hole Ms. Purple’s class 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Lined to 100 Lined to mean BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  58. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 120 130 Mr. Redd’s class, raw scores Curved Lined to 100 Lined to mean Even within a school, teachers might use different versions of ‘the curve’. Lined to median Any ‘curve’ (or line) system
 is a form of grade inflation. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  59. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 120 130 Rule of thumb: if the curve/line is more than 1 SD, it’s probably not the students who are the problem. Mean = 72 +1 SD = 84 Mean = 81 +1 SD = 80 Mean = 58 +1 SD = 69 Mean = 61 +1 SD = 76 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  60. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 120 130 Curving/lining makes low proficiency teachers look okay by inflating class performance. Mean = 72 +1 SD = 84 Mean = 81 +1 SD = 80 Mean = 58 +1 SD = 69 Mean = 61 +1 SD = 76 See — it’s all good. These kids are doing fine. See — it’s all good. These kids are doing fine. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  61. Lining grades sorta works if SD is no more than

    1/3rd the “pass window”— say 13 points or less. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 54 Ms. Green’s class +1 SD = 66 -1 SD = 42 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 92 -1 SD = 68 A quick check: after lining a set of grades, is any non-zero score still an F? If so, then the SD is probably too large. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  62. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 Raw Lined-to-mean 4 pt But remember - some of those gains will be offset in the transition from 100pt to 4pt. Ms. Green’s class, each student’s raw score, 26 pt. lined-to-mean, and on 4pt scale BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  63. -20 -10 0 10 20 30 Net gains Lining the

    grade really helps the better students, but doesn’t help most lower students. And that’s at 26 pts. Ms. Green’s class: net gains after lining and 4pt transition B students A students C’s C+ D+ students D+ students B+ BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  64. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 Raw Lined-to-mean 4 pt If the class mean was 66, then lining to the mean is (obviously) less beneficial. Ms. Green’s class, +13 each student’s raw score, 14 pt. lined-to-mean, and on 4pt scale BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  65. -20 -10 0 10 20 30 Net gains But now

    the curve is only enough to offset losses for C+ and higher students. Lower students = still screwed. Ms. Green’s class +13: net gains on 4pt via ‘line’ B students A students C’s C+ D+ students D students B+ BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  66. Only a proper curve preserves relative distances from the mean.

    Lining often distorts distances. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 47 +1 SD = 71 -1 SD = 23 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 90 -1 SD = 70 Mr. Redd’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  67. Relative distance matters because zero is the only ‘real’ point

    on the scale. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Raw Curved A kid might score a 100, but still be able to do a good bit better if there were more, harder questions. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  68. So… what about zeroes? 0 10 20 30 40 50

    60 70 80 90 100 Mean = 48 +1 SD = 67 -1 SD = 29 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Mean = 80 +1 SD = 99 -1 SD = 61 Ms. Green’s class, with two scores changed to zeroes. Ms. Green’s class BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  69. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 Raw, no
 zeroes no zeroes lined - mean no zeroes, curved Raw w/ zeroes If scores are lined to the mean,
 zeroes make grades higher for everyone. w/ zeroes curved w/ zeroes lined to mean BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  70. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 Raw, no
 zeroes no zeroes lined - mean no zeroes, curved Raw w/ zeroes If scores are curved, zeroes make grades higher for low scorers, and lower for high. w/ zeroes curved w/ zeroes lined to mean BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  71. Kids who get zeroes because they just don’t care. Kids

    who get zeroes because it helps everyone in the class. Kids who get zeroes knowing it helps the slow kids and hurts the smarter kids. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  72. Those kids with zeroes are just going to get their

    grades bumped up to 50, anyway. That’s real grade inflation. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  73. What about the kids that get 45s? BETA VERSION: PLEASE

    DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  74. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 Raw lined - mean curved Raw 0 = 50 helps curb grade inflation for lining, and minimizes de/inflation for curving. curved lined to mean Raw lined - mean curved Ms. Green’s class, no zeroes Ms. Green’s class, w/ zeroes Ms. Green’s class, 0=50 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  75. Yeah, but kids pile up 50s and pass with just

    a couple of assignments. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  76. Student with 65 average: 0 for n of 10 assignments.

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 For a low-scoring student, one zero is fatal. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  77. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 1

    2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Normal Grade 0 = 50 0=50 gives that student three extra chances to get the lowest passing grade. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  78. Net gain: 65 average, 0 = 50 for n of

    10 assignments. 0 25 50 75 100 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 The net gain to the student’s grade is at most 15 points — and then only for 60.5 (D) The horror, the horror! BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  79. That’s grade inflation! That’s what I’m talking about, plain as

    day. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  80. Does it offset the loss from the 4pt scale? BETA

    VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  81. Same student, net gain from 0 = 50 vs losses

    from 100pt-to-4pt. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Net gain Transit loss Net gain almost never offsets deflation from 100pt-to-4pt transition (based on raw score) . BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  82. Net gain: 65 average, 0 = 50 for n of

    10 assignments. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Normal Grade 0 = 50 Net gain Transit loss 0=50 in one graph so your eyes hurt. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  83. Student with 75 average, 0 for n of 10 assignments.

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Normal Grade 0 = 50 Net Gain Transit Loss For 75-average students, 0=50 offsets losses only for 6 zeroes and a 60 final grade. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  84. Student with 85 average, x for n of 10 assignments.

    0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Normal Grade 0 = 50 Net Gain Transit loss For 85-average students, 0=50 offsets losses only for 7 zeroes and a 60.5 final grade. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  85. Student with 85 average, x for n of 10 assignments.

    -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Normal Grade 0 = 50 Net Gain Transit loss For 95-average students, 0=50 offsets losses only for 7 zeroes and a 63.5 final grade. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  86. So a kid can get three 95s, skip seven assignments,

    and still pass? Ridiculous! BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  87. Isn’t 0=50 a kludge for a grading system that is

    already messed up? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  88. Imagine the scoring system as a plane of 10 assignments

    x 20 items each = 200 squares. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  89. That landscape gets broken into discrete assignments of, say, 20

    squares each. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  90. Each assignment must be 60% complete to pass, which allows

    for 80 empty squares. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  91. Or a student can fill 6 assignments 100% and zero

    out four — 80 empty squares either way. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  92. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

    What grade is this? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  93. What grade is this? 1 2 3 4 5 6

    7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  94. If students turn in 100% of assignments, teachers have to

    do 100% of the grading. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  95. Teachers have to do 100% of grading just to give

    this kid a 0 on their transcript. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  96. This kid is doing the teacher a massive favor- saving

    them 40% of the work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  97. I have soooo much grading to do! BETA VERSION: PLEASE

    DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  98. Who made that bed? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE.

    FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  99. In theory, for any given assignment, the implicit assumption is

    that scores increase in difficulty… A A B B C C D D D D D D D D D D D D 1 Student needs … 
 18 correct for an A 16 correct for a B 14 correct for a C 12 correct for a D BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  100. …and that’s true for each assignment. Makes sense, right? In

    theory. A B C D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  101. In practice, assessments too often check only recall of knowledge.

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  102. In which case, any set of n correct answers is

    no different from any other. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  103. In which case, the grade cutoffs are totally arbitrary and

    unjustifiable. Like, really. A A A A A A B A B C B A B C D B A B D C B B B C C D C A C B C C D C D D D D D D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  104. Marginal knowledge required for each grade. 0 0.2 0.4 0.6

    0.8 1 F D D+ C C+ B B+ A In this scale, higher scoring students have diminishing marginal mastery. 7/67 3/80 3/90 60/60 3/70 7/77 7/87 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  105. Let’s assume each grade cutoff represents more difficulty, not simply

    more recall. A B C D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  106. There are at least a couple ways we can justify

    different levels of difficulty within an assignment. A A B B C C D D D D D D D D D D D D Student demonstrates… …understanding of knowledge. …analysis and application of knowledge. …justification for an opinion or decision. Bloom’s taxonomy: …recall of knowledge. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  107. There are at least a couple ways we can justify

    different levels of difficult within an assignment. A A B B C C D D D D D D D D D D D D Student can… …explain ideas. …apply ideas. …predict next ideas from current mastery. …remember ideas. Simplified taxonomy: BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  108. Problem 1: This is an A… A B C D

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  109. … but so is this. Which is more work? A

    B C D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  110. Problem 2: It’s easier to go down… A B C

    D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  111. … than up (and this kid still fails). 1 2

    3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  112. If missed items create a disadvantage for future assignments, failure

    is too likely. C D 70 70 70 70 60 50 50 50 50 50 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  113. If correct items create an advantage for future assignments, success

    is more likely. B C D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  114. (You may never see this in the wild.) B C

    D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  115. Problem 3: ’recovery’ means students usually redo failed assignments for

    passing scores. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  116. For the previous student, the teacher has to regrade up

    to 60% of assigned work. 5 6 7 8 Original correct answer Redo correct answer 9 10 To prove a student did only 60% of the work, the teacher does 160% of the work. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  117. A teacher might have to do 200% of the grading

    (every assignment twice) just to fail a kid. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  118. But this… A B C D 1 2 3 4

    5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  119. … is equivalent to this. D C B A D

    D D D D D C B A BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  120. … or, more accurately, this. D+ C+ B+ D C

    B A D D D D D D D+,C C,+B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  121. In theory, the 6 ‘D’ stacks are the same difficulty,

    so 5 of them provide no new grade information. D+ C+ B+ D C B A D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  122. Which means teachers are wasting massive amounts of time grading

    low-value work. D C B A <-Pointless-> D C B A BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  123. The rightmost assignment (most difficult?) makes zero difference in the

    transcript grade. If your grade is already an A, this stack represents the inverse of extra credit. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  124. D+ C+ B+ D C B A All the important

    information amounts to four assignments — 80 items out of 200. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  125. D If assignments are aptly constructed,* a student might only

    need one to pass. *Which, granted, nobody does. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  126. D+ C+ B+ D C B A Let’s assume this

    teacher gradated assignments across a unit, to make each level more difficult. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  127. 17 +16 +17 +16 +17 +16 =98/200 = 49% The

    teacher has no expectation for harder work if lower assignment scores are not adequate. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  128. If a student misses 22 on the 6 D assignments,

    a perfect 20 on the (harder) C work is still an F. 17 +16 +17 +16 +17 +16 +20 =118 -> 59% BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  129. 20 +20 +20 +20 +20 +20 =120 -> 60% The

    student should instead redo to try to recover the easier points they missed. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  130. 20 +19 +20 +17 +20 +19 =120 -> 58% At

    most the teacher does 120% of grading to fail a student — not 200%. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  131. 20 +20 +20 +20 +20 +20 =120 -> 60% Here

    the teacher only does 90% of grading. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  132. D+ C+ B+ D C B A This also addresses

    the zeroes problem: a strong incentive to do the first 6 assign’ts. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  133. C+ B+ D B A Missing one of the first

    assignments means a student might be eligible for the next level up. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  134. D+ C+ B+ D C B A Missing two assignments

    makes a student ineligible for the next level. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  135. D Kids who want a bare pass can skip the

    last few assignments. 19 +19 +18 +18 +18 +18 +10= 120 -> 60% BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  136. 20 +19 +20 +17 19 +17 +10 = 121 ->

    60.5% If students are close to the cutoff score for a grade, the next assignment is in effect extra credit. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  137. D+ C+ B+ D C B A This system is

    also more robust to the ‘downstairs’ problem. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  138. 20 +20 +20 +18 +16 +14 +12 = 120 =

    -> 60% If D-level knowledge is not connected to itself, missing an item does not cascade in D assignments. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  139. D+ C+ B+ D C B A But in order

    to make this work, the implied greater difficulty has to be made explicit. D D D D D D D+,C C+,B B+,A 100 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  140. D+ C+ B+ C B A 1 2 4 5

    6 3 7 8 9 10 If the teacher can justify that gradation, the teacher can also justify this gradation: BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  141. C+ B D+ B+ C Now the teacher can justify

    passing a student even if they miss seven assignments. D D D+,C C C+,B D B B+,A A extra BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  142. The teacher can also justify this: the 4 pt scale

    mapped to the assignment plane. C+ D B D+ B+ C A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  143. Or, for that matter, this… C+ B+ D D+ C

    B A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  144. Or, for that matter, this… D C B A 1

    2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  145. But setting D=60% forces teacher and students alike to do

    way more work than necessary A B C D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  146. It’s all arbitrary anyway. Who cares? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO

    NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  147. But is it arbitrary in a way that helps or

    hurts students? BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  148. Grades can help students and teachers by: 1. Being appropriate

    to the subject. 2. Reflecting true gradation. 3. Not curving (or lining). 4. Weighting only for credit, not points. 5. Using the SAME SCALE for recorded and reported grades. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  149. 1. Grade scale should be appropriate to the subject: qualitative

    classes should use an ordinal scale… Categorical Ordinal Interval Ratio A A is best! B + 10 90% B Better than C, 
 but less than A. C + 10 80% C Better than D,
 but less than B. C = D + 10 70% D Better than F, less than C. D = F + 10 60% F F is the worst. F = D - 10 F = 0 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  150. … but the more quantitative the class, the stronger the

    case for a ratio grade. Categorical Ordinal Interval Ratio A A is best! B + 10 90% B Better than C, 
 but less than A. C + 10 80% C Better than D,
 but less than B. C = D + 10 70% D Better than F, less than C. D = F + 10 60% F F is the worst. F = D - 10 F = 0 Quality ——————— ———————>Quantity BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  151. 2. Use true gradation: this should happen either per assignment…

    1 2 4 5 6 3 7 8 9 10 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  152. … or per unit. Or both. (So long as there

    is a solid rationale for the gradation.) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  153. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

    100 110 120 130 3. Stop curving or lining: it’s unnecessary if work is properly gradated… BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  154. 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 1

    2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Nor should there be need for kludges like 0=50. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  155. 4. Weight for credit: APEIBD classes should earn more credit,

    not more points. Letter Grade Equal Points Extra Points More Credit AP History D 1 2 1 x 1.25 1.25 Physiology B 3 3 3 3 Ceramics A 4 4 4 4 DE Trig B 3 4 3 x 1.25 3.75 French I B 3 3 1 3 AP Lit A 4 5 4 x 1.25 5 GPA 3 3.5 3.33 BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  156. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

    50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 A B C D F Obviously, this is ratio data, but it’s not like we’re going to get rid of GPAs. This system at least makes them more accurate. 5. Use the same scale for recording and reporting grades. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  157. Teachers will have to do waaaay less grading… BETA VERSION:

    PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  158. -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 70 73 76 79

    82 85 88 91 94 97 100 0 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75 82.5 90 97.5 see me after class good job! … and students’ grades will make waaaaaaaaaay more sense. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  159. And will there be less arguing about grades? BETA VERSION:

    PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE. FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.

  160. That’s up to you. BETA VERSION: PLEASE DO NOT DISTRIBUTE.

    FOR REVIEW ONLY. FEEDBACK TO u/StonyGiddens, PLEASE.