Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Are Grades Necessary?



           Grades hold students accountable for their work. Grades are what motivate them to complete their work, turn it in on time, and study for tests and quizzes. But this was not the original purpose of grades. Originally grades were meant to serve as feedback to students about their progress. A C on a math test meant You do not completely understand the material, but your are approaching understanding. But things have changed. Now, grades are the final product students are working towards. Students have become more concerned with their grades rather than truly understanding the material. This is evident by the questions they ask: How many points is this worth? and Are we turning this is? But the focus should be on the learning. Unfortunately this is easier said than done. How do we hold students accountable for their learning without giving them grades? A shortened video of Dan Pink speaking on this issue can be found here:

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