Discusses two studies that debunk the popular myths that student evaluations of teaching (SETs) are substantially biased by low workload and grading leniency. Results imply teaching effects were related to SETs. Contrary to predictions workload, expected grades, and their relations to SETs were stable over 12 years. (Author/MKA)

In an Oklahoma case, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that student grading of other students' work must be anonymous. By implication, the decision raises questions about other practices, such as displaying excellent student papers, awarding group grades, and publishing names of honor-roll students. (MLH)

Discusses traditional grading procedures used in education in general, and physical education in particular, suggesting an alternative procedure that may be more appropriate for grading students with disabilities in inclusive settings while still meeting the standards of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Suggestions include IEP…

Interviews with 10 Hong Kong teachers implementing the Teacher Assessment Scheme yielded metaphors describing their perceptions of roles in student assessment: examiner, policeman, and companion. Acting as teacher and assessor brought conflicting value systems into play. Underlying beliefs about assessment should be examined in order for the…

In this paper, we present our experiences in using two automatic assessment tools, TRAKLA and TRAKLA2, in a second course of programming. In this course, 500-700 students have been enrolled annually during the period 1993-2004. The tools are specifically designed for assessing algorithm simulation exercises in which students simulate the working…

Grade inflation is a longstanding problem whose seriousness is demonstrated by a wide variety of studies of grade distributions. A few institutions have changed the information on their transcripts in an effort to account for it. Proposals to index grades have been largely unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. A simple index, the Real GPA, is…

In 2002, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) published the report of an independent panel of experts into maintaining standards at Advanced Level (A-Level). One of its recommendations was for: limited experimental double marking of scripts in subjects such as English to determine whether the strategy would significantly reduce errors…

The use of weekly peer-evaluated poster sessions as a method for evaluating laboratory work in a general chemistry lab is reported. Findings show that the posters appear to have helped the students better understand how to display information concisely.

A discussion on the increased use of objective grading techniques and disciplinary procedures to provide a safe and fair educational environment is given. An argument on such mechanistic procedures is presented, which could never be truly objective and that they would result in more harms than benefits.

Increasingly, coordinators are undertaking a scrutiny of work in order to check standards in their subjects. This is done frequently for English and mathematics, where annual targets for attainment in year 6 have to be set, but less so for science. Carrying out a scrutiny of work can be a daunting and time-consuming process. Faced with a pile of…

Criteria for judging performance are traditionally and unproblematically invoked as a resource to be used (1) to make the assessment requirements evident to learners and (2) to provide a tool for rendering teacher judgments consistent, reliable, and fair. This paper explores the use of criteria and standards in the process of teacher judgment of…

College grades play important educational and social roles (Milton, Pollio, and Eison, 1986; Walvoord and Anderson, 1998). What is not well understood are the types of problems that exist in college grading practices. Conversations about grade inflation in higher education are often based on sparse anecdotal evidence and charged with value…

The variety of factors contributing to the quality of handwriting or print provides an opportunity to determine the extent to which teachers are influenced by the interaction between different bias elements during evaluation of examinations. Fifty-three teachers evaluated compositions that had been awarded grades of 80% by impartial experts. A…

Through an examination of one institution's efforts to strengthen teaching and learning on campus, the author makes a strong case for the use of common examinations as a powerful form of assessment as well as a fruitful context for faculty deliberations. Providing a continuing occasion for faculty inquiry and discussion, insuring grade…

This article explores the realities of grading and report cards within the context of standards-based physical education (SBPE). Specific objectives are to (1) identify standards for conducting quality assessments, (2) examine grading issues and concerns, (3) present guidelines for grading in SBPE programs, and (4) exemplify grading and reporting…