I have found the "math" issue to be such a thorny one that I don't use
numbers anymore, but have found a way for formitive and summative
feedback to still motivate students in terms of their grade.

 

I wrote a little one-pager of it up for a friend recently, so I have
attached that.

 

-M

 

 

________________________________

From: Team Learning Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Jorden C. Sahl
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 9:32 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: the math of peer evals

 

Hi Everyone,
I recently finished my second Introductory Psychology course using TBL.
I have a question that is not that complicated but for some reason I
can't get myself around the math and I want to double check with other
TBL users before I teach it again. 
 
I used the Peer Evaluation form from the TBL book that assigns an
average of 10 points, with one 9 and at least one 11 (max 15). A student
asked me - so what does my average have to be to get "perfect" on the
peer evaluations? And I was stumped (I had just never thought of it that
way)
 
The max anyone can get would be 15, so I would assume in the rare case
scenario of one person getting all 15s from their peers that would be
"perfect". But then, if 10 is average, is 10 "perfect" (I.e., if someone
gets an average of 10, do they get 100% on peer evaluations, with the
possibility for students to get higher than 100%)? (My class picked 30%
for the peer evaluations grade weight). Calculating it this way (10 is
100%) increases everyone's grade quite a bit (about half a letter
grade), which I don't have a problem with, as long as it is correct!
 
I am second guessing myself with the math and want some input before I
use this method again. 
Thanks so much.

 

Jorden Cummings Sahl, M.A.

Graduate Student, Clinical Psychology

Depression & Wellness Research Lab (302.831.2215)

University of Delaware

Newark, DE  19716

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