tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post2995579394474602773..comments2023-10-29T10:40:34.638-04:00Comments on A CS Professor's blog: My theory on gradesClaire Mathieuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10957755706440077623noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-65752238445033066902011-12-26T21:41:06.296-05:002011-12-26T21:41:06.296-05:00As a TA, I taught at a large university where the ...As a TA, I taught at a large university where the curve was designed so that the overwhelming majority of undergrads got C's. "The overwhelming majority gets" anything is very depressing: students coasting, other off to a bad start and working really hard and improving their scores, students in a tailspin... same end result, same grade.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-21096457068283498022011-12-23T02:09:19.758-05:002011-12-23T02:09:19.758-05:00I think grad school needs to realize that B is not...I think grad school needs to realize that B is not a bad grade. However, I do agree that whomever-deserves-an-A-gets-an-A is the best policy. If there are so many people (say %40) doing well, you may need to challenge them more without hurting students outside that group.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-22162022271105225612011-12-22T20:24:54.143-05:002011-12-22T20:24:54.143-05:00What if they want to go to other graduate schools?...What if they want to go to other graduate schools? Average GPA of B will ruin their academic life. You should see this issue from student's standpoint as well. If everyone is good, all of them should get a grade that is reserved for good students. And the difference between A and B should be significant (and not arbitrarily close).SoloGennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-44807214076499069842011-12-22T17:14:41.897-05:002011-12-22T17:14:41.897-05:00They're good students to start with, they work...They're good students to start with, they work hard and get a good education to build on that good start, the ones who are so inclined can give research a try, and then, if they wish to, they go to a good graduate school.<br /><br />Simple! At least in theory.Claire Mathieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10957755706440077623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-13705610316561450252011-12-22T17:02:03.199-05:002011-12-22T17:02:03.199-05:00You mean they don't have problems getting into...You mean they don't have problems getting into the graduate program of the University of Banana Republic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-85286257938143332062011-12-22T13:06:50.207-05:002011-12-22T13:06:50.207-05:00Anonymous, that's not true for Brown students....Anonymous, that's not true for Brown students...Claire Mathieuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10957755706440077623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4068183698747623113.post-36924970732437020632011-12-22T12:20:26.726-05:002011-12-22T12:20:26.726-05:00As vs Bs do matter to CS students. As lead the way...As vs Bs do matter to CS students. As lead the way to grad school: Bs shut that door.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com