Cohen, Jordan. “Plus/Minus Grading Motivates Students.” TCU Daily Skiff 1 Feb. 2006: n. pag. Web. 13 Feb. 2011.
The newspaper article “Plus/Minus Grading Motivates Students” discusses the trend of colleges and universities switching to the plus/minus grading system, and the possibility for TCU, or Texas Christian University, to adopt the grading system. While some think that the system will solely benefit the “academically poor” students, Cohen asserts that it will serve as an incentive for students to learn more and stay focused on their classes.
One student, Mandy Velasquez, says that it will motivate her. She explains that she would aim for a B+ if she were in the B range. She also predicts that the school is implementing the system in an attempt to combat grade inflation. Some believe that schools like TCU are considering the switch in grading system in order to “remain competitive” with the current grading systems among colleges, other students want to modify the grading system further by implementing a one-hundred point system.
What do I think? I think that the minus/plus system is fair if is also allows for the possibility of receiving an A+. Some systems do not allow for the student to get an A+, and it seems that, without offering benefits, the system is only punishing the student. In my undergraduate institution, I received a few A+ along with A-, and they evened each other out for the most part. I actually would be an advocate for a 100-point system because it would provide more accuracy in grading and provide motivation for those students who aim for a certain grade and see no reason to work harder for no reward (for instance, some students aim for an 82 rather than an 89 because, in schools without a plus/minus system, both are a B). Thus, plus/minus systems provide more motivation and accuracy, and the 100=point system provides a new level of accuracy.
While this online news article was published in 2006, I chose to include it because it is the first of many subsequent articles from college and university representatives who consider changing the grading system to a plus/minus system. I wonder if a 100-point system is next?
No comments:
Post a Comment