Remember the other story, posted by Louis Schmier some time ago? Can't find the original, but it goes something like this:A foundation was being built for a house, and the worker was told to dig a trench for one side of the wall. He was told to dig a hole two feet wide and six feet deep. When the supervisor returned, he saw that the worker had dug a hole two feet deep and six feet wide. The supervisor told the worker that was unacceptable. The worker, of course, replied: "But I worked really hard."
Beth (I don't base grades on flipping a coin) Benoit Granite State College New Hampshire On Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 10:27 AM, <[email protected]> wrote: > I have to say that I am a bit amazed and taken aback that almost the vast > majority of responses have suggested that we, as instructors might be > faulty in > only one direction of grading: erring against the students and therefore > having > to make a correction in the student's favor and against our better > experience > and judgement. > > Comments have suggested that how can I be so sure my standards are correct? > Well, maybe they're not, but then how can you be sure that your standards > are > faulty in only one direction? > > Why is that? > > Why isn't it equally possible that the error is the other way around? > > Is there any evidence one way or the other? I think I definitely err by > giving > students too much slack all semester long and so in the end, after very > many > years of teaching decided my standards needed to be elevated. These were > NOT > all A and B students I was teaching, but if I had the grading scheme I've > seen > from other schools, my god, I'd be passing students who absolutely are > clueless > about the science of psychology. I'm a bit apalled, frankly. > > I like the driver's license analogy and I can't think of anyone who tries > the hard > luck stories there. Reminds me of what I did to my kids--made them take the > test in a stick shift car--and they failed several times before they got > over their > nerves during the test and made it through without ever killing the engine. > Maybe that's a good insight into my general approach to learning in life. > But > both are so grateful they can drive a stick shift in any circumstance now! > And > yes, the occasions do come up! > > Annette > > > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology > University of San Diego > 5998 Alcala Park > San Diego, CA 92110 > 619-260-4006 > [email protected] > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > -- "We will not learn how to live in peace by killing each other's children." - Jimmy Carter "Are our children more precious than theirs?" --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
