Grading on the curve

Micheal Erickson (mericks who-is-at ruralnet.net)
Tue, 22 Dec 1998 19:40:47 -0700

For what it's worth:

"Grading on the curve" is when the outcome variable, or standard, is
adjusted to meet the lowest common denominator. There are a lot of
assumptions underlying the sacrosanct curve but most of them are
mathematical in nature and design--and far from being educational.

The bell curve is a statistical mechanism whereby a large enough random
sampling will shake out, so to speak, into a curve-like pattern.

However, I never thought of education, or teaching as a random activity. I
always thought of them as being purposeful and having some impact. So, if
I'm as good a teacher as I think, my students should excel and show a
skewed outcome, statistically speaking.

In fact as long as I don't vary the standard set by the discipline experts
or department but enhance the mediational aspects, the outcomes should also
reflect the endeavor. If all the students receive A's based on the standard
of excellence, then they and I have done well.
"If no learning has taken place, then no teaching has occurred."

As I tell my students who comment on how much they have learned: "When the
student is ready the teacher will appear." They are the ones who are the
real agents of their learning. And the grading curve only gets in the way
of any collaborative, cooperative and even competitive learning.

Michael