Grading Dilema-Need advice

[flexygrl]

Hey,

This is my second sememster teaching a Flash/Dreamweaver class for a University on Long Island. Last time it was for the Arts and Media division, this time it's for the Business division. Well before the start of the class I was told by the division director to not give out all A's. I didn't think it would be a problem with me as I make my classes pretty challenging. Well, my "kids"(most of them are older than me) this time around are awesome. Every single time I assign them anything they turn around and not only do it, but surpass it. SO I spoke to the director again and told him. His response was to make it even more challenging. So I did. Well again, they stepped up to the plate and got the job done. I also gave some of them B' s on their midterms and they are all doing extra credit to get A's. So what should I do? They all deserve A's. They absolutely worked hard and earned it. My husband says that I should meet with the director and go over their work to show him why I feel the way I feel. What do you all think. As it stands right now, unless they bomb their finals tomorrow they are all getting A's except for one student who will be receiving a B. She was late on her midterm and we worked out MAJOR extra credit( extra projects) because I was going to fail her.

 

[HumorMe]

If you are giving that 1 person a B, then what is the problem?

It's not all A's as your director instructed.

Besides, if they earned an A you need to be fair about it and give them what they earned!

 

[TheProject]

Well, the way I see it, you really want your students to do well, which is a good thing, however, you don't have to give out extra credit to your students.

You're letting them off the hook for making a lower grade by allowing them to do more work for extra points.

I think, in the future, if you don't provide opportunities for extra credit, you'll see the grades fall along a more normal curve.

I don't understand why the director would dictate what grades you give out, but I think you're going to have to meet with him, and explain the situation.

 

[Baoh]

Well, the way I see it, you really want your students to do well, which is a good thing, however, you don't have to give out extra credit to your students.

You're letting them off the hook for making a lower grade by allowing them to do more work for extra points.

I think, in the future, if you don't provide opportunities for extra credit, you'll see the grades fall along a more normal curve.

I don't understand why the director would dictate what grades you give out, but I think you're going to have to meet with him, and explain the situation.

Exactly.

By the way, is it SUNY?

 

[studcj]

I wish I had teachers like you. I got a 89.7% and my calc teacher wouldn't bump it up to an A.



Just curious, how many extra credit opportunities did you give?

 

[Baby Gorilla]

Give all A's....

Your department head is a dick, and you can tell him I said so.

You set challenging standards, and your entire class has exceeded them. They earned the A's fair and square. Overachievers are not happy with anything less, and if I took a class and didn't get an A I otherwise earned because of some stupid policy the department head had, I'd be going to the Dean of Academics for blood.

I think the students should know of this policy. Sounds like some are getting screwed out of grades they fairly earned because of an unethical academic practice.

 

[flexygrl]

Hi,

Thanks everyone. Yes I was not going to give them the opp. for extra credit, but they begged!! So I told them that they could only get it by doing a very specific task. I figured that most of them would be too lazy, well they weren't. One of my A students did 3 extra credit projects. I told them about the policy. I thought that they had a right to know. I'm gonna do what I feel is right. They deserve A's and they are getting them. Thanks again.

 

[flexygrl]

I wish I had teachers like you. I got a 89.7% and my calc teacher wouldn't bump it up to an A.

That happened to me too!! I graduated with a 3.94. I missed my 4.0 because of my accounting teacher. I think that is one of the reasons that I try to be EXTRA fair. The one "B" student really should have failed, but she came to me crying hysterically and I melted. I'm a sucker I guess.