I was never a grade conscious student. I took in what I
could take, and happy when I got high marks. If I get low grades, I usually evaluate myself and my efforts and sometimes find enough reason for me to accept the low marks. I get knocked back into “consciousness”
whenever I am in danger of failing - and the possibility of repeating the subject
was dangling in front of me, or the thought of my mother’s wrath. (FYI, I was more
afraid of the latter.)
Fast forward to my older self - the one who pays for her own
education… now I know why my mom was grade conscious! Money-wise, good grades are
also my objective gauge whether I am committed to my studies or if I am valuing
the money I am spending for my higher education. A good self-check.
Good grades = money
well spent
Bad grades = do better, don't waste money!
Traditional
definition: Grades measure one’s level of understanding of the subject
matter. Hence, it is an important measure of one’s progress to master a
topic. It is an input to a feedback
mechanism that will allow the student to check their understanding of the
course, and to implement specific measures to improve further. I agree that
effort should be considered. In higher education, however, I think accuracy and
quality should be a priority. Without grades or some type of measurement system
in place, a student may not know whether he or she is on the right track.
I would want to know my grades,
or at least hope to receive some kind of feedback, for every assignment done
within a semester. It is good to know if I am on the right track, ultimately
contributing to the completion of my units per semester. Good to know if I should study more, or seek to understand more...
If that is too demanding for the
grade givers, fine – then I will accept receiving feedback at the end of the
semester. To reach that point when I can say that, “Ah, the sem is over, and I learned
all about <insert subject name here> and I am ready for the real world”
Alas, I cannot claim relief yet
about one subject I took a semester ago. I am confident about it because I
liked the topic, but I know nothing about how I did. Am I still too demanding
if I complain?
Hey, we deserve to know our grades on time. It's not just a number.
Come graduation, I am not only seeking a printed diploma out of compliance. I am seeking higher education.
