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How Grades Degrade
I looked up at the beginning of class, surveyed the students sitting before me, and glimpsed about five or six faces I hadn’t seen in weeks. I immediately knew why they were there.
In the previous few classes, I had given credit to students who attended class. The students who came to class did not have to do the assignment accompanying the lecture. Instead, they gained credit by participating in the class activity. I figured that would change the attendance, and it did. This is no different than me suggesting supplemental reading that could further their understanding and knowing no one is going to view that material versus saying, “OK, I will give extra credit if you read this material and write a paper on it,” at which point several students will do it.
It’s just how it is.
That somewhat full class was a few weeks ago. Now that the class has returned to the standard format of in-class lectures and out-of-class homework, the students stopped coming. Logically, for them, there is no reason to be in class because they earn nothing from being there.
On Learning and Earning
I have this theory in my head, and it goes something like this:
There are two types of orientations to education. There is the “earning” orientation, which focuses on grades and credentials, and the…
