Grading Scale
Introduction:
This is probably the easiest portion of the setup process. The grading scale is often predetermined by whatever the department or school policy is for your curriculum or course.
The grading scale is important because students will want to know how the grade they have received on each project will relate to the final grade in the course. The grading scale in a points system will range from a percentage of what the total of your projects will be, to whatever a ‘Grade’ will be in the end. For instance, if your total grade points are based on based 500 points worth of projects, the “A” grade is calculated by taking the lowest percentage based on 100 that must be attained to receive an A. In this case, 90% of 100 equals 450 points.
Based on the graphic above, the student will have to attain a total point value of 300 at the end of the semester to attain the grade of A. Each project will also be based on points, and a percentage is figured in like terms for each individually graded project.
The Percentage is based on the ‘standard’ function, where 93 percent of a grade may be an A, and the amount is configured accordingly in the function of entering the values in the Grading Scale component of the gradebook. Students will create the grading scale that grades will follow when entered into the system. Students benefit from the grading scale when assignment grades are correlated to success and failing criteria. By selecting ‘Add item’ a new level will be added to the scale. Most common applications include the correlation of the A/B/C scale associated with a numerical value.
The numerical value for grades will be declared in the syllabus as established by the institution or department, for benefit to both the instructor and student. This section of grade scale will calculate the final grade for the student, as well as keep a running calculated score of the student’s grade throughout the course.
Activities:
1. Within the Set-up tasks, select the Grading Scale. Under the Label tab, type ‘A’.
2. If your gradebook is set to Points, select the text entry box and enter the Minimal numerical score that students would need to achieve an ‘A’ for the overall grade in the course.
3. If your course is set up as a Percentage base, select the minimal score, based on 100%, that the student will need to achieve an ‘A’. If that achievement level is based upon a level of 90%, then enter 90 into the white box.
4. Continue to add values until the percentage or points is the complete, the least of which is 0 for both percents and points, which would more than likely equate to a ‘very poor grade’ of F!.
Summary: The grading scale gives students the perspective of success, or failure. It establishes the bar of expectation. When grading is consistent, students know what to expect. The online component will always provide the student who is wondering what his or her grade is, the confidence, or at least the knowledge, of knowing where he or she stands in the course, without having to ‘ask the teacher’ what that ‘earned grade’ is at the end, or even in the middle of the course.
Assessment
http://angelgradebook101.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-is-purpose-of-grading-scale.html
In this experience, please tell your classmates why the setting up of a grading scale is important to both the student and the instructor. Have you eer been confused by a grade, or expected more or less, based upon what you thought the grade scale was set to?