Friday, March 2, 2012

end of 3rd Quarter

Well, grades won't be updated online until Monday - I got kicked out of school today earlier than I was expecting as the custodians worked the day shift since we had no students today.  For those of you who were hoping to have some final touches made to your grade, you won't see them until Monday.  My apologies.
Although I left in a hurry as Dr. Rossiter set the school alarm and left my grading work there, I did take time tonight to illustrate the value in doing non-required work (besides the obvious extra review/extension/application that helps on the tests):
A Case Study:  Optional Assignments
Joe All Optional and Jane No Optional are two students in my class. Both students do all their homework and generally do well on tests.  Both Joe and Jane have 100% in the class, but Joe has done every optional assignment and also his labs have been done well; all getting 100%.  Jane has earned 100% on every required assignment but no extra/optional work.  On Monday's test, both Joe and Jane have a bad day and score a 25/45.  Joe's grade drops to a 93%, but Jane's grade has less buffering from all the optional points and drops to an 88%.  The effect will be similar no matter where your grade is; doing work (well) and getting high marks on optional assignments is like inertia for your grade.  Not keeping it down inertia, keeping it up.

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