The fall 2022 semester is slowly, but surely coming to an end and it’s definitely one for the history books. For some reason, a few of my professors have decided to take a different approach to grading. Instead of using numbers, the class is graded using complete/incomplete. Essentially, as long as you complete the assignment, you get credit for it regardless of accuracy. It sounds like an academic utopia and I completely understand the logic.
Getting an A doesn’t always mean you have a firm grasp on the material you’re learning. You might just be very good at memorization.
This ambitious style of grading is supposed to decrease stress, but I find that it does the opposite. I feel much more scrutinized than before. The number might not matter, but my professor’s opinion of me does. Even though I know this is meant to help me learn, I still have a right/wrong approach. It seems as though this is their way to figure out who cares and who doesn’t.
One of my professors who does this also gives out pop quizzes. They’re not graded, but the questions relate to things we have read/discussed. We also get the chance to swap answers with a partner and explain any questions/thoughts on the topics. We get these pop quizzes so often that eventually we are able to retain and recall information easier and get a better understanding of what we don’t understand by talking aloud. I like this style of teaching. It forces me to have to think without too much fear of failing.
The question then becomes, what is better? Grading based on accuracy or completeness? I admit that sometimes I just hand in nonsense because I know I get a 100 as long as I do it. It’s not a very motivating system. Either way, none of these things work unless the professor completely buys into it as well. They have to communicate with the student through feedback on assignments. At least then I know that they are actually reading what I put down. Of course, we as students are also responsible for our own academic success. Reaching out to your instructor is definitely a valuable skill to learn in college.