As the first term of the school year comes to a close, questions arise about grades, how one earns a grade and what that grade really means.
Grade Inflation is a term that is thrown around a lot in both secondary and postsecondary education, but what is it? Any time we hear the word inflation we immediately think that something is now worth less than it was before. (The only time we like the word inflation is when it refers to balloons, or a raft that you can lay on all summer in the pool).
In schools across America an average student used to be expected to receive a "C" in their classes; nice and simple located directly in the middle of the 5 point scale A, B, C, D, F. (don't even get me started on leaving out the letter E... system already makes no sense) But in today's reality, the average student is expected to receive grades of A's and B's. C's are for underperforming students, and if you receive a "D" or and "F" then you must be a delinquent causing problems in class, and there's clearly no hope for you.
With our expectations skewed to the upper end of the scale, how do we sift through the sea of 'A's and determine the truly high achieving students from the new average student. Students from the "every kid gets a trophy" Millennial Generation expect A's, want A's, but only in some circumstances (definitely less than the 50% who receive them) deserve A's.
In reality the question is whether or not it matters at all, as long as students are learning. Do grades, typically based on teacher-made assessments, reflect real student learning or simply the ability of students to regurgitate the information provided to them by the teacher. What is a genuine assessment of student preparedness for college? Career? Life in general?
So as you fellow educators finalize your grades, send out your comments (equally questionable in their purpose or purposefulness), take a moment to consider what they mean; are you too harsh, too lenient, or just stuck working within the confines of defining student progress with a meaningless number.
-MB
For additional reading on grade inflation from people who actually did research click here:
ASCD article "Research Says / Grade Inflation: Killing with Kindness?"
Grade Inflation is a term that is thrown around a lot in both secondary and postsecondary education, but what is it? Any time we hear the word inflation we immediately think that something is now worth less than it was before. (The only time we like the word inflation is when it refers to balloons, or a raft that you can lay on all summer in the pool).
In schools across America an average student used to be expected to receive a "C" in their classes; nice and simple located directly in the middle of the 5 point scale A, B, C, D, F. (don't even get me started on leaving out the letter E... system already makes no sense) But in today's reality, the average student is expected to receive grades of A's and B's. C's are for underperforming students, and if you receive a "D" or and "F" then you must be a delinquent causing problems in class, and there's clearly no hope for you.With our expectations skewed to the upper end of the scale, how do we sift through the sea of 'A's and determine the truly high achieving students from the new average student. Students from the "every kid gets a trophy" Millennial Generation expect A's, want A's, but only in some circumstances (definitely less than the 50% who receive them) deserve A's.
In reality the question is whether or not it matters at all, as long as students are learning. Do grades, typically based on teacher-made assessments, reflect real student learning or simply the ability of students to regurgitate the information provided to them by the teacher. What is a genuine assessment of student preparedness for college? Career? Life in general?
So as you fellow educators finalize your grades, send out your comments (equally questionable in their purpose or purposefulness), take a moment to consider what they mean; are you too harsh, too lenient, or just stuck working within the confines of defining student progress with a meaningless number.
-MB
For additional reading on grade inflation from people who actually did research click here:
ASCD article "Research Says / Grade Inflation: Killing with Kindness?"
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