Institution, game, or anything some one or something will give you a grade A-F. Although if they are feeling very savvy S-F. Either way they SUCK. Reason for this outburst was my college report card; C, C, D (retake class), C,C.
Quite frankly I believe grades to be pointless because of the stress factor they add in. However they do give a moderately accurate layout of how your are doing in the class at the time. A fault to that is though Im relatively good at math, give me an equation and I'll solve it just fine. On the flip side give me an equation on a test and I'll have some trouble because I want a good grade to keep my scholarships, and other important college things.
Any thoughts on grades, pressures, or anything related to the topic?

Frank_Sinatra_:
Institution, game, or anything some one or something will give you a grade A-F. Although if they are feeling very savvy S-F. Either way they SUCK. Reason for this outburst was my college report card; C, C, D (retake class), C,C.
Quite frankly I believe grades to be pointless because of the stress factor they add in. However they do give a moderately accurate layout of how your are doing in the class at the time. A fault to that is though Im relatively good at math, give me an equation and I'll solve it just fine. On the flip side give me an equation on a test and I'll have some trouble because I want a good grade to keep my scholarships, and other important college things.
Any thoughts on grades, pressures, or anything related to the topic?

In Soviet Russia, you disappoint grades!

Actually, in Soviet Russia there was neither grades nor homework. I think they're suitable, as a vague indication, but like most numerical rating systems, inefficient in displaying what type of student you really are. Do you try hard, but ability means lack of success? Or do you not care, but ability provides a decent grade (I'm talking about B/C range here, but this theory can be applied to all grades).

In my school they had ability grades and effort grades A-E and 1-5 (1 being best) My greatest aim was to get an A5, closest I got was A3.

Okay, I guess the grading scale was a bit generalized. Well I tried very very hard in the class I got a "D" in, and yet I'm going to have to retake it.

I had a real problem with the way the grading system (in America at least) works, homework ended up being a higher percentage towards final grade than tests. To me this is just stupid, test are the grade of your knowledge in the subject, homework is meant to be a way to learn the material. If I already knew the material I wasn't going to waste my time on homework, why can't they set up a system where you're graded on your knowledge and not how much busy work you can do?

I certainly wouldn't go to a doctor who got a D in medicine. Or hire an engineer who couldn't build a proper bridge.

I don't think grades are wrong, but I do believe that we put far too much importance on them...at least here in the US. So far, in my college experience, I've found that in most classes, you're graded on how well you can memorize the material for the final exam, not whether you actually grasped the material.

I have a friend who get's straight A's, but if you asked him to explain what he had learned, he'd look at you with a complete blank stare. He's great at memorizing things, but awful at learning things. I guess it doesn't really matter what your grades are, just so long as you've found a way to succeed and get through.

All I can say is this:

Not everyone learns the same way, and therefore not every school, institution, whatever, should teach the same way.

mokes310:
I don't think grades are wrong, but I do believe that we put far too much importance on them...at least here in the US. So far, in my college experience, I've found that in most classes, you're graded on how well you can memorize the material for the final exam, not whether you actually grasped the material.

*SNIP*.

Thats something I'm getting at! Why "teach" us the material if its just memorization? The only class that I took that I really had to work for the final was my English class (especially since the teacher hated how I use my voice to write).

Probably because homework is closer to the way you will work with the subject later on in life than tests are. Tests are only good for testing how well you have remembered what you were taught, not how good you are at using it.

Xaryn Mar:
Probably because homework is closer to the way you will work with the subject later on in life than tests are. Tests are only good for testing how well you have remembered what you were taught, not how good you are at using it.

Wait, so in order to accomplish everything I just have to look in the back of the book?
Why didn't anyone tell me?

Tests grade how well you do in practice because in real life you don't have all night to do something, so have a set time and set problems, now fix it. Not you have these problems, go home ask your parents and friends or just copy the person who did it tomarrow.

With governmental targets comes the necessity at many levels to grade performance, whether it be in an educational, employment or output arena. It's a stressful but relatively honest and transparent method of evalutation.

In games though...I can't think of a game which graded me that I didn't like. In one swoop they've added replaability to something I wouldn't otherwise revisit...

I don't have a problem with tests and grades, but I do think they are too prevalent. You don't need to have targets for everything...

Well they need some kind of standardised system. What else do you propose?

I don't like them but we need them, that's just the way it is.

Frank_Sinatra_:

mokes310:
I don't think grades are wrong, but I do believe that we put far too much importance on them...at least here in the US. So far, in my college experience, I've found that in most classes, you're graded on how well you can memorize the material for the final exam, not whether you actually grasped the material.

*SNIP*.

Thats something I'm getting at! Why "teach" us the material if its just memorization? The only class that I took that I really had to work for the final was my English class (especially since the teacher hated how I use my voice to write).

The way I look at college now is as follows:

The subjects, professers, classes aren't what I'm learning. What I AM learning is how to take the problem at hand and solve it. How do I solve the problem of having a class I know nothing about? How do I solve the problem of having a shitty prof?

I believe that if you look at college like that, it becomes much, much easier. Trust me, I'm on my second stint in college, first stint was at 18, now I'm 25 and it's MUCH EASIER! You're really not learning the subjects, just showing them (future employers) that you have the ability to solve problems that you may not be thinking about. Does that make sense?

mokes310:

Frank_Sinatra_:

mokes310:
I don't think grades are wrong, but I do believe that we put far too much importance on them...at least here in the US. So far, in my college experience, I've found that in most classes, you're graded on how well you can memorize the material for the final exam, not whether you actually grasped the material.

*SNIP*.

Thats something I'm getting at! Why "teach" us the material if its just memorization? The only class that I took that I really had to work for the final was my English class (especially since the teacher hated how I use my voice to write).

The way I look at college now is as follows:

The subjects, professers, classes aren't what I'm learning. What I AM learning is how to take the problem at hand and solve it. How do I solve the problem of having a class I know nothing about? How do I solve the problem of having a shitty prof?

I believe that if you look at college like that, it becomes much, much easier. Trust me, I'm on my second stint in college, first stint was at 18, now I'm 25 and it's MUCH EASIER! You're really not learning the subjects, just showing them (future employers) that you have the ability to solve problems that you may not be thinking about. Does that make sense?

So your taking the class and solving it sideways?

Frank_Sinatra_:

mokes310:

Frank_Sinatra_:

mokes310:
I don't think grades are wrong, but I do believe that we put far too much importance on them...at least here in the US. So far, in my college experience, I've found that in most classes, you're graded on how well you can memorize the material for the final exam, not whether you actually grasped the material.

*SNIP*.

Thats something I'm getting at! Why "teach" us the material if its just memorization? The only class that I took that I really had to work for the final was my English class (especially since the teacher hated how I use my voice to write).

The way I look at college now is as follows:

The subjects, professers, classes aren't what I'm learning. What I AM learning is how to take the problem at hand and solve it. How do I solve the problem of having a class I know nothing about? How do I solve the problem of having a shitty prof?

I believe that if you look at college like that, it becomes much, much easier. Trust me, I'm on my second stint in college, first stint was at 18, now I'm 25 and it's MUCH EASIER! You're really not learning the subjects, just showing them (future employers) that you have the ability to solve problems that you may not be thinking about. Does that make sense?

So your taking the class and solving it sideways?

That's one way to look at it. After I left college the first time, I got a job in the corporate world, doing a job that a trained monkey could do, yet was supposed to require a college degree. What I learned there was that they didn't care what the degree was in, they just wanted to see that you could solve problems on a higher level than someone who only completed high school.

I should also add that I'm a communications major, so much of my course work isn't as emperical as lets say, someone wanting to be a doctor or an engineer. However, my point is this, how you solve the problem is as important as the problem your solving, i.e., it's not what you learn but how you learn it.

J-Man:

Frank_Sinatra_:
Institution, game, or anything some one or something will give you a grade A-F. Although if they are feeling very savvy S-F. Either way they SUCK. Reason for this outburst was my college report card; C, C, D (retake class), C,C.
Quite frankly I believe grades to be pointless because of the stress factor they add in. However they do give a moderately accurate layout of how your are doing in the class at the time. A fault to that is though Im relatively good at math, give me an equation and I'll solve it just fine. On the flip side give me an equation on a test and I'll have some trouble because I want a good grade to keep my scholarships, and other important college things.
Any thoughts on grades, pressures, or anything related to the topic?

In Soviet Russia, you disappoint grades!

Actually, in Soviet Russia there was neither grades nor homework. I think they're suitable, as a vague indication, but like most numerical rating systems, inefficient in displaying what type of student you really are. Do you try hard, but ability means lack of success? Or do you not care, but ability provides a decent grade (I'm talking about B/C range here, but this theory can be applied to all grades).

In my school they had ability grades and effort grades A-E and 1-5 (1 being best) My greatest aim was to get an A5, closest I got was A3.

That middle section describes me.

I also dislike the rating systems, as like IQ tests, all they do is show a set section of capabilities, rather than allowing you to show what you can do across a large area of testing. Well, maybe not tests, because those cause me to make mistakes frequently.

I don't disagree with grades as such, you need to know your weaknesses, otherwise you will suck for life. I'm sorry you didn't do well, but lets be honest. If Grades were about self esteem, we would be surrounded by no good doctors and lawyers who suffer from overconfidence.

I DO think percentages are the way to go. more accurate, and you have a better idea about how you failed

jim_doki:
I don't disagree with grades as such, you need to know your weaknesses, otherwise you will suck for life. I'm sorry you didn't do well, but lets be honest. If Grades were about self esteem, we would be surrounded by no good doctors and lawyers who suffer from overconfidence.

I DO think percentages are the way to go. more accurate, and you have a better idea about how you failed

Put another way I usually only care about classes that are revenant to my degree.

In the school that I go to instead of getting grades we get a narrative at the end of every quarter. The teachers writes about areas we improved on, need to improve on, if the goals were met, and the quality of our work. There is no letter grade included at all.

But I do agree that grades put on a lot of pressure. Before I went to this alternative school I had really bad grades because of homework even though I did really good on tests. I new I was going to do bad anyway so I eventually just gave up. I think a lot of people felt the same way.

My thoughts are that you probably spend to much time on internet forums and/or playing video games, so study more, pay attention in class, and if you don't understand something, ask questions.

mattttherman3:
My thoughts are that you probably spend to much time on internet forums and/or playing video games, so study more, pay attention in class, and if you don't understand something, ask questions.

I understand it I'm just not good at tests at all. Like I've said before I can do the things they ask me if they just ask but if they put it on a test I'm screwed.
(If you basing your accusation on my current being constantly online its because currently college is still out for winter.

There needs to be some criteria of academic judgement and while I agree that "stress" isn't as crucial to say... researching the habits of old dead dudes, functioning under it is is crucial to things like Medicine or other fields where you are likely to encounter stress frequently. I dunno, personally I test well and stress has never really killed any of my grades. I finished off my university career with a 3.35 GPA and I was fairly proud of that.

Frank_Sinatra_:

mattttherman3:
My thoughts are that you probably spend to much time on internet forums and/or playing video games, so study more, pay attention in class, and if you don't understand something, ask questions.

I understand it I'm just not good at tests at all. Like I've said before I can do the things they ask me if they just ask but if they put it on a test I'm screwed.
(If you basing your accusation on my current being constantly online its because currently college is still out for winter.

Well number 1, if you had more than 3 weeks off college, thats not fair, number 2 i don't really know how to change someones inabillity to take tests, ive heard of people that know all their stuff and as soon as they see the question on the test, they draw a blank.

mattttherman3:

Frank_Sinatra_:

mattttherman3:
My thoughts are that you probably spend to much time on internet forums and/or playing video games, so study more, pay attention in class, and if you don't understand something, ask questions.

I understand it I'm just not good at tests at all. Like I've said before I can do the things they ask me if they just ask but if they put it on a test I'm screwed.
(If you basing your accusation on my current being constantly online its because currently college is still out for winter.

Well number 1, if you had more than 3 weeks off college, thats not fair, number 2 i don't really know how to change someones inabillity to take tests, ive heard of people that know all their stuff and as soon as they see the question on the test, they draw a blank.

I know its not fair but its awesome none the less. Thats the kind of guy I am and I hate it.