Grades vs Learning

Love and Marriage.

Beer and Pizza.

Football and Beer.

Grades and Learning.

Do these things all have to be together? Can you have learning without grades? How would you know? This article talks about how grades are an arbitrary measurement and are really subjective. I would tend to agree. However, as I have mentioned previously, assessment where I think the most opportunity for disruptive innovation lies.

Here’s another question though. If you look at the whole school system, including politicians, unions, parents and students, who would be opposed to a much better way to assess learning?

It’s a great post, read the whole thing!

• Grades are arbitrary, learning is not | mndaily.com – Serving the University of Minnesota Community Since 1900

  Great summary of learning vs grades article

  tags: education grading learning nell

  • As the semester comes to a close at the University of Minnesota, many students are concerned with what grade they will receive in their courses.
  • Grades are an odd social construct. They are meant to transmit your level of expertise in course material to the world outside of school. They serve as gatekeepers for those who fall below a certain grade point average. But instead, grades hardly transmit expertise because most universities have different ways of understanding them. A C+ grade at one university will be a B- at another. This becomes problematic quickly.
  • For many students, especially undergraduates, grades are a validation. Students crave them because it’s like a pat on the back for doing good work. Students often want validation from their teachers because that seems to be the only way to know if they are doing well or not.
  • However, this creates a problem. Instead of trying to master the knowledge of the course, students master how to please their teacher.
  • It’s a flawed system that teaches students to only do the minimum to get a certain grade. It doesn’t encourage sustained inquiry or passion, and it sets up students to be in two groups: A-grade students and everyone else.
  • Honestly, I’m more concerned about the students who don’t fight their grades because it’s reminiscent of the passivity universities seem to create in students. Many students just seem to accept their grades without comment or criticism. Either they know that’s the grade they deserve, or they just don’t care as long as they pass the class.
  • Students and teachers should be more concerned with learning than grade assigning.
  • If students focused on learning and exploring their courses rather than what grade they’re trying to get, then perhaps classes would be more engaging and fun. Most teachers do not like grading. It’s a drag. They’d rather be teaching and helping students critique, question and succeed. That’s what teaching is about.
  • The truth is that once you leave the University, five years from now, no one will care that you got a B in your ancient Greek history course. No one.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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