The Following List Of Scenarios Comprise Six Different Teach

The Following List Of Scenarios Comprise Six Different Teachers And Th

The following list of scenarios comprise six different teachers and the marking system each employs. Choose any two of the scenarios and list the advantages and disadvantages of each. Also, identify the approximate weights that you believe should be placed on each part of each system.

Paper For Above instruction

The selected scenarios involve diverse grading philosophies and methods employed by six different teachers. For this essay, I will analyze two specific cases: Mr. Smith’s criteria-based grading system and Ms. White’s aptitude and performance approach. These provide contrasting perspectives on assessment and grading, offering insights into their respective advantages and disadvantages, along with proposed weightings for their grading components.

Analysis of Mr. Smith’s Criteria-Based Grading System

Mr. Smith employs a comprehensive set of criteria that collectively contribute to the final grade, with specified percentages for timeliness, homework completion, participation, helping others, extraclass work, study habits, attitude, attitude towards subject matter, and test performance. This multifaceted approach aims to encompass various aspects of student engagement and achievement, promoting a holistic measure of student performance.

Advantages

  • Holistic assessment: By including behavioral and attitudinal components such as attitude and participation, Mr. Smith’s system encourages students to develop soft skills and positive classroom behaviors alongside academic mastery (Guskey, 2011).
  • Clear criteria and transparency: The explicit weightings make expectation setting transparent, which can motivate students to focus on specific areas (Andrade & Du, 2007).
  • Fairness based on diverse criteria: The system recognizes multiple forms of learning and effort, potentially reducing bias that might stem from solely testing-based assessments (Nitko & Brookhart, 2014).

Disadvantages

  • Difficulty in objective measurement: Qualitative components like attitude are subjective and may lead to inconsistencies in grading (Stevens & Levi, 2012).
  • Potential for grade inflation or dilution: Including numerous small-weighted criteria might inflate grades or obscure true mastery (Wiggins, 1998).
  • Time-consuming assessment process: Evaluating participation, helping behavior, and attitude can be subjective and may require considerable teacher effort (Brookhart, 2013).

Suggested Weightings

  • Work submitted on time: 15%
  • Homework completion: 15%
  • Participation: 20%
  • Helping others: 5%
  • Extra work: 8%
  • Study habits: 10%
  • Attitude toward school: 2%
  • Conveying attitude towards subject: 5%
  • Test performance: 20%

Analysis of Ms. White’s Aptitude and Performance-Based Grading

Ms. White emphasizes a humane and individualized grading approach by considering students’ innate aptitude, represented through IQ scores, alongside their academic performance. This method aims to differentiate between students’ potential and actual achievement, providing a more nuanced understanding of progress and ability.

Advantages

  • Recognizes innate potential: By accounting for IQ, the system acknowledges natural differences in students’ abilities, potentially fostering a more equitable environment (Sternberg & Grigorenko, 2002).
  • Encourages supportive feedback: Personalized and empathetic comments based on IQ help build student confidence and motivation (Noddings, 2013).
  • Provides a comprehensive view of student progress: Combining aptitude and achievement offers insights into whether students are performing up to their potential (Yin, 2009).

Disadvantages

  • Potential biases: Using IQ scores can reinforce stereotypes and may not accurately reflect a student’s learning capabilities or effort (Gould, 1981).
  • May undermine motivation: Students with low IQ scores might feel discouraged, and high IQ students might feel undue pressure or complacency (Hatties, 2017).
  • Questions about fairness: Equating grades directly with IQ scores can be controversial and inconsistent with standards of academic fairness (Yao & Yao, 2012).

Suggested Weightings

  • Performance on assessments: 60%
  • IQ consideration in feedback: 20%
  • Class participation and engagement: 10%
  • Extra-curricular or behavioral factors: 10%

Conclusion

Both grading systems reflect distinct educational philosophies—Mr. Smith’s holistic and criteria-based model aims for transparency and multi-dimensional assessment, while Ms. White’s approach advocates for recognizing innate abilities alongside performance. Each system has notable strengths, such as promoting diverse skills or fostering individual support, but also bears challenges like subjectivity, potential bias, or fairness concerns. Assigning appropriate weightings necessitates balancing the importance of behavioral engagement with academic mastery, ensuring assessments promote both fairness and developmental growth in students (Crynes & Schneider, 2012).

References

  • Andrade, H., & Du, Y. (2007). Student perceptions of rubric use in higher education. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 12(1), 1–11.
  • Brookhart, S. M. (2013). How to assess higher-order thinking skills in your classroom. ASCD.
  • Crynes, S., & Schneider, H. (2012). Rethinking assessment: From sum of knowledge to assessment as learning. Teachers College Record, 114(5), 1–25.
  • Gould, S. J. (1981). The Mismeasure of Man. W.W. Norton & Company.
  • Guskey, T. R. (2011). Grading practices, standards, and student achievement. Teachers College Press.
  • Hattie, J. (2017). Visible learning: Feedback. Routledge.
  • Nitko, A. J., & Brookhart, S. M. (2014). Educational assessment of students (7th ed.). Pearson.
  • Noddings, N. (2013). Education and democracy in the 21st century. Teachers College Press.
  • Sternberg, R. J., & Grigorenko, E. L. (2002). Teaching for success: The cognitive-affective model of giftedness. Routledge.
  • Yao, Y., & Yao, P. (2012). Cultural influences on assessment fairness. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 31(1), 2–9.