- I have asked that you tweet at least two (if not more) times per week on educational topics (I also discussed in class last week the need to leave feedback for peers)
- I have asked that you leave a comment in the comments section for the weekly blog post
- I have asked that the reading responses be sincere and completed before class the next week (even if we do not meet in person)
- I asked for the Ethnography questions to be emailed to me on or before Friday
- The Rethinking High Schools web-based presentations, assessments, and comments should be completed
Okay, now I feel better. . .now let's discuss what we are doing in class Tuesday, Feb 23.
- Debrief Ch 1-3 (Designing Groupwork)
- Marshmellow Toothpic/Problem Solving
- Video
- Ethography Questions/Work
- State Findings and support w/data (not the reverse)
- Due dates
- (1-2 page) written Executive Report that outlines the design of your study, major findings, and reflections on the process (shared with me via GoogleDocs)
- Discuss HW & Compassionate Discipline Assignment
Posts
So I am probably not supposed to say this, but I am going to anyway. I think that if this class were pass fail I would not try as hard as I do. I would be less motivated by the prospect of getting a good grade. I would miss out on some of the really neat things that we have done, like looking at everyones presentations, because they take a long time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meagan. If this class were pass/fail, I probably would only put forth the minimum effort.
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough question. If the class were pass/fail what is the value of the grade, however, i also believe that grades sometimes have too much value. If I get a lower letter grade than someone else does that really mean I learned less? I cant say that I would definitely put less effort into the class. If the subject matter is really important to me I think I would put the same amount of effort into the class as if it were a letter grade. So for this class I think it wouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that it would change my level of effort. Like everything in life, it is up to me as to what I want to take away from it. I am highly motivated about the content we are covering in this class, so I would be trying not for a grade point average for my transcripts and essentially someone else, but I would be trying for me. So I can come away from this class knowing what I want to know.
ReplyDeleteThroughout life I have always been competitive and have tried to be at my best. I am here to prepare for a teaching career and am prepared to do what it takes to be at my best. Pass or fail would not make a difference in my effort.
ReplyDeleteI actually think it could motivate me if it meant all or nothing. Say if you couldn't get credit until you displayed competence, that would motivate me. Why do we all have to learn at the same rate? Who made that rule?
ReplyDeleteI think people put way to much emphasis on grades. As long as one gets a good grade what does it matter how much you take away from the class. This is the consensus from many students at all levels. I want to learn the concepts and be able to apply what I have learned to my personal goals. So having this class as a pass or fail or the usual grade system would not motivate in more or less. Personally I think evaluation are the way to go instead of grades.
ReplyDeleteI try to do my best in everything I do, so I feel that I would put in the same amount of effort in this class if it were pass/fail. When I write my assignments I want to know what I am talking about, especially when I am writing blogs that everyone can see!
ReplyDeleteI think if this class were a pass/fail, it would motivate me if the grade was all or nothing. I would want to make sure that I did quality work instead of putting in the time for nothing.
ReplyDeleteI've never taken a Pass/Fail course, so I can't say for sure, but I think I'd prefer a P/F class because it would remove some of the pressure. And, I still think that I would work as much as I do now.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a "good" student, so I believe that I would still put forth good effort and complete all my assignments even if the class was pass or fail. However, since I am not competing for a A, B, C, ect... then my work might not be my best quality. Why try to go above and beyond, if the person next to me only did the minimum amount of work and got the same grade as me??
ReplyDeleteI think I would try just as hard, because I'm not concerned with my grade, I'm concerned with getting the most out of my classes. But that is because I'm interested in what we are learning. If a subject I didn't really like was pass/fail, then I would definitely just do the minimum.
ReplyDeleteIf this course had a pass/fail grade instead of a letter grade, I feel like I wouldn't try as hard as I have been. My work wouldn't be at its best and I don't think I would take anything away from this class. I've learned a lot of new technology in this class and am excited to use it in my classroom when I start student teaching.
ReplyDeleteI would do the same work even if this class were pass/fail. I try to get what I can out of a class regardless of any grade I might receive. If I am uninterested in a class, I just perform at the minimums to pass.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I'm not concerned too much with my actual grades. It is all about making me think and what I can take away and apply to my teaching. So the pass/fail would not really change my work ethic.
ReplyDeleteI would like to edit my original response. I originally stated that having this class be pass or fail would lead me to participate less in the class. After discussing this with some of you, and doing some personal reflection, I realize that this might not be entirely true. CP I was pass/fail. I tried harder in that portion of the program than in my other classes that were not pass/fail. I feel that for me, motivation to do my best lies in two areas, 1. how important the "class" is to me, and 2. if I feel that the professor cares about how much I learn. I think that if this class were pass/fail, I would still put forth a good effort to learn from this class.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly's second response. If I feel interested in the class, then I will do better in that class. If not, I will do worse in the class. I have always tried harder in classes that I enjoyed and less in classes that I don't enjoy, even when I had classes that were based on grades.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris and Michael in their responses. School is a place where you are learning. If you are acquiring new brain cells in your class, you are learning. Some classes are what we all have seen as "shuffling" where students do the work, and don't have to think to do it. Those are the students who get the good grades. Yet there are others who put more effort and get worse grades. Then there are the students who put little effort and listen to the things that really interest them. For example, a lot of us know how to use twitter and are semi-competent in using the technology. Would many of us really use it in our classes with students? I agree we should learn how to use the technology, but will assigning the task of posting 2 twitters every week help engage us further as educators. In then end, we end up deciding which tools we want to use in the classroom. As for completing the assignment, I will complete it, but then again, I feel like shuffling all over again like I was a student in the past. As for pass/fail grades, it would depend on what format it was graded upon, and how much was at stake. A pass/fail grade, as Pat Stall used in her example of taking a dancing class, would hold no value, but a TPA assignment like Kelly stated, would. So it depends on the scenario.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sharon and Kelly. If I feel like the class is a waste of time and I'm not getting anything out of it then I would just do the bare minimum to get credit. If I think the class is going to help me then it being credit/no credit would have no effect on my work ethic.
ReplyDeleteA pass or fail score allows students the freedom to really put a strong effort in the things that they really want to explore. For example, it may give more academic freedom for creativity.
ReplyDeleteFurther, I kind of think that a pass fail system eliminates grading bias, which will be very good for students.
ReplyDelete