Jeff,
We have sort of the opposite problem around here. In our department
there
is one prof (no names) who consistently grades students far more harshly
than the rest of us. The mean for this person's intro psych sections are
always a full grade point lower than the department mean (p<.001).
His/her upper
level courses usually have an attrition rate > 50%. She/he claims that
he/she is the only one upholding real academic standards. I think that
this lack
of consistency across instructors is a real problem but I'm not sure that
there's an easy solution. Any suggestions from the list on how to
handle
this problem?
TIA -Don.
********************************************************************
Don Allen email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dept. of Psychology voice: (604)-323-5871
Langara College fax: (604)-323-5555
100 W. 49th Ave.
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada, V5Y 2Z6
********************************************************************
On Mon, 15 Nov 1999, Jeff Ricker wrote:
> There are certain general-studies couses that almost all students at my
> school take that are notoriously easy. I just had a student who has been
> getting F's and D's on my tests, but who is getting an A and a B in two
> of these other courses. She just barely got a C on my last test because,
> she told me, she finally studied the material. When students get into my
> course, they cannot understand why I am so "hard." I can't blame them
> for thinking this way about my courses when their experiences in certain
> other disciplines at this school show them that they can get a good
> grade with little or no work.
>
> Has this been a problem at your school (i.e., large differences across
> disciplines in the rigor of courses)? Is there anything that any of you
> have done that has helped to change this situation? Short of beginning a
> campus-wide discussion of standards, I don't know what can be done. What
> upsets me about it is that these students don't have a chance once they
> get into upper-division courses. I'm also wondering if this is more of a
> problem at community colleges than at other centers of higher education.
> If so, it puts students transferring from community colleges at a
> disadvantage.
>
> Yours in the struggle,
>
> Jeff
>
> --
> Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
> 9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
> Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Scottsdale Community College
> Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
>
> "The truth is rare and never simple."
> Oscar Wilde
>
> "Instead of having 'answers' on a test, they should just call
> them 'impressions'. And, if you got a different 'impression',
> so what? Can't we all be brothers?"
> Jack Handey
>
>
>
