Featured Faculty
Bryan Lilly
COBA Marketing Team
OPID Scholar 2006
During a semester, items typically graded include exams, quizzes, projects, homework, etc. As the semester ends, some method must be used to convert scores on these items into end-of-semester grades. In linear grading, every item is worth some positive amount of points. At the end of the semester these points are summed to arrive at a total score. Total scores are then compared to hurdles, and students receive the grade associated with the highest hurdle overcome. As an example, if a course involves 600 points, then a hurdle of 550 might be associated with an A, and any student achieving a total score of 550 would receive an A. If scores/grades are curved, then a curve is achieved by adding a constant number of points to each students total score. This linear grading method is easy to understand and use, but other methods exist. Just a couple examples:
- Combination Rules, for example a course grade of A is allowed only for students who score at least a B on each exam. Or the highest grade that can be achieved is one letter grade higher than what was achieved on the lowest exam.
- Replacement. A grade on one item can replace a grade on another item. For example, high performance on an end-of-semester cumulative exam can be used to allow a student to replace a lower score from a mid-term exam.
The purpose of this project is to
- identify different methods for converting item scores into end of semester grades,
- understand the pros/cons associated with different methods, and
- make recommendations about when certain methods should be used. Linear grading is the most common method used to convert item scores into end a semester grades.
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