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TBL Community (and Fried Vance):

I've had the same concern/problem that Fried Vance has had.  

Well, I don't have bad students ending the semester with course
averages above 80% because my quiz grades tend to be lower (using
harder quizzes, which distresses students differently).  I do,
however, have the problem that students complain that they don't know
what their grades are and such.  

Worse, students complain about not knowing their grades even though I
post their letter-grade-to-date once at mid-semester, at week 12 of
16, and often before the final.  

Thus, I've thought maybe students just aren't accustomed to having so
many different graded activities (and thus resist). I've been
responding by explaining that this results from the way the class and
evaluation process is structured to help them learn (while they're
probably hearing me suggest that they go soak their heads...).  It
seems they want some sort of a total number of points that they can
add up, which will get them to an A or B, etc.

Any silver bullets out?   

Best,

Fritz Laux, Assoc Prof of Economics
Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Oklahoma


>
>
>---- Original Message ----
>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: RE: assigning letter grades
>Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:23:36 -0500
>
>>I've used TBL the past couple of years and am quite happy with it. 
>My only major unresolved problem is the procedure for determining
>final grades.
>>In the past I have used the system that Larry suggests in the
>book-rank ordering everyone by score and then subjectively
>determining letter grade break points.  I think this approach results
>in fair grades for students.  However, it is hard for many students
>to understand where they stand in class until the end of the
>semester.  Of course the 90/80/70 doesn't work because so much of the
>score is from group grades.   As a result often poor students can end
>up with a score over 80.
>>Any suggestions?
>>Vance H. Fried
>>Brattain Professor of Entrepreneurship
>>Spears School of Business
>>Oklahoma State University
>>Stillwater, OK   74078
>>405.744.8633
>>405.744.5110 fax
>>
>>