Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dcc1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!gatech!dcc1!unixcorn
From: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Newsgroups: net.unix,net.cse
Subject: Re:  students editing output (curve grading)
Message-ID: <172@dcc1.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 23-Oct-85 10:54:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: dcc1.172
Posted: Wed Oct 23 10:54:33 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 24-Oct-85 01:04:09 EDT
References: <452@uvm-cs.UUCP> <2222@brl-tgr.ARPA> <585@aicchi.UUCP>
Reply-To: unixcorn@dcc1.UUCP (math.c)
Organization: DeKalb Community College, Clarkston GA
Lines: 52
Xref: watmath net.unix:5995 net.cse:541

In article <585@aicchi.UUCP> ignatz@aicchi.UUCP (Ihnat) writes:
>In article <2222@brl-tgr.ARPA> gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>) writes:
>>On student cheating:
>>
>	...
>>only hurt themselves (unless the college stupidly grades on a
>>relative rather than an absolute basis).  Surely no sensible
>	.
>	.
>Uhh..hate to bring this up...but you ever hear of the phrase "curve"??
>Yes, they really do grade on a relative basis.
>     ^^^^
>Personally, I don't believe in curves; if you only know 80% of the material,
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
     (i agree)

>then you *don't* deserve an A, even if you're the highest grade in the
>class.  If the whole class blows an exam, then either everyone is a dunce,
>or--more likely--the instructor screwed up.  But that's not the way it
>works.
^^^^^^ 
 depends where you are

 Certainly, some instructors curve grades at some schools. (Thank Gauss
my physics instructor did!) Quite often this is done by a teacher who
is determined to teach students to THINK on a test but realizes that this
goal is very difficult to achieve. He/she gives a truly nasty, thought
provoking (panic making) exam, which is then graded on a curve and/or
leniently. 

 AS a student, I loved partial credit and the curve. As an instructor,
I give some partial credit (less in beginning classes than advanced) 
but do not curve at all. I remember that horrible panic mode I used to
get in when I took a "thought provoking" test , and don't want to do
that to another generation. THAT IS NOT TO SAY I BELIEVE IN REGURITATION
TESTS. Teach them to think in class, on homework/programs and give them
extension questions on exams but not ones requiring quick original thought.

(I must not be alone here, a quick check showed very few of my dept members
curve grades as a rule)

                            Help stamp out ignorance! 
 
                            (my feet are getting awfully tired from stamping)


-- 

             unixcorn  (alias m. gould)

                   "there's a unicorn in the garden and he's eating a lily"
                    gatech!dcc1!unixcorn