James Black
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- Sep 7, 2008
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This bothered me quite a bit in High School, and I even argued and got credit my teacher initially didn't want to give me once, but it didn't matter since I essentially decided I hated education and dropped out...
But, for some reason, I had higher expectations in college. Granted, I'm currently nearing the end of my time at a community college, not an university, but I still expected... more.
I received my mid-semester grades recently. I'm rather happy: this is the first time I've actually tried to do well instead of glide along since sometime near the 4th grade. My grades were three 4.0s and two 3.5s. Now, sure, I shouldn't complain... Because, hey, those aren't too shabby. But out of those two 3.5s, I only felt I deserved one... My "Analytic Geometry and Calculus I" grade. Which I feel I can easily raise to a 4.0 before the end of the semester, anyway. The other, however? "Supporting End Users." Its a class I attend once a week, for 3 hours. Every class is the same routine: listen to the professor read a powerpoint word-for-word, then split up into four groups, which each then get a "subject," and then use the remaining two hours to research the subject, make a powerpoint, and present the subject. Anyone good with math or time knows instantly this is a horrible idea. And often the class runs beyond the allotted time. The groups have minimal time to work together to make the powerpoint, obviously, so common practice is to have everyone make their own slides, put it all together, and present your own portion. Not bad... Except every damn presentation so far has resulted in one or two dumb-ass members who don't properly follow the directions, and I constantly lose points in the class for these other people's mistakes. Not only do I feel I shouldn't be responsible for the others (this isn't a leadership class, after all) but if I tried to take responsibility, I'd quickly run out of preparation time trying to get everyone to understand the project... And thats assuming the best-case scenario where nobody argues that they're right and I'm wrong.
With that rant out of the way, on to what this thread was about...
What is your opinion of the practice of grading students as a group?
Not necessarily making students work in groups, but making them work as a group and then grading them as one as well? I'd be less annoyed if we received individual grades. Its not entirely that "I don't want to help others," but a lot more of "I don't have the time to help others and get my shit done in a timely fashion," and I feel as if ultimately, I'm powerless to alter my grades and have to succumb to the mercy of my group mates' efforts.
But, for some reason, I had higher expectations in college. Granted, I'm currently nearing the end of my time at a community college, not an university, but I still expected... more.
I received my mid-semester grades recently. I'm rather happy: this is the first time I've actually tried to do well instead of glide along since sometime near the 4th grade. My grades were three 4.0s and two 3.5s. Now, sure, I shouldn't complain... Because, hey, those aren't too shabby. But out of those two 3.5s, I only felt I deserved one... My "Analytic Geometry and Calculus I" grade. Which I feel I can easily raise to a 4.0 before the end of the semester, anyway. The other, however? "Supporting End Users." Its a class I attend once a week, for 3 hours. Every class is the same routine: listen to the professor read a powerpoint word-for-word, then split up into four groups, which each then get a "subject," and then use the remaining two hours to research the subject, make a powerpoint, and present the subject. Anyone good with math or time knows instantly this is a horrible idea. And often the class runs beyond the allotted time. The groups have minimal time to work together to make the powerpoint, obviously, so common practice is to have everyone make their own slides, put it all together, and present your own portion. Not bad... Except every damn presentation so far has resulted in one or two dumb-ass members who don't properly follow the directions, and I constantly lose points in the class for these other people's mistakes. Not only do I feel I shouldn't be responsible for the others (this isn't a leadership class, after all) but if I tried to take responsibility, I'd quickly run out of preparation time trying to get everyone to understand the project... And thats assuming the best-case scenario where nobody argues that they're right and I'm wrong.
With that rant out of the way, on to what this thread was about...
What is your opinion of the practice of grading students as a group?
Not necessarily making students work in groups, but making them work as a group and then grading them as one as well? I'd be less annoyed if we received individual grades. Its not entirely that "I don't want to help others," but a lot more of "I don't have the time to help others and get my shit done in a timely fashion," and I feel as if ultimately, I'm powerless to alter my grades and have to succumb to the mercy of my group mates' efforts.