tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post4683360149680900795..comments2023-10-08T06:20:56.637-06:00Comments on Learning and Laptops: Releasing My Seniors from Gradesanneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573450327737964454noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-23995406912925952772007-10-27T22:56:00.000-06:002007-10-27T22:56:00.000-06:00Wow. That sounds like a great idea. First of all...Wow. That sounds like a great idea. First of all, thank you, Mrs. Gaffney, for saying what I have always wanted to say. It drives me crazy when people tell me, "It's not about the grade." Everyone wishes we didn't have grades, but until now, I have never seen a teacher do anything to solve the problem.<BR/><BR/>I have to admit, when I have an assignment that is worth a lot of points, I often figure out what I need to do to get a good grade. A gradeless project would put a lot more emphasis on learning, and also allow for a little more freedom.<BR/><BR/>I do however, agree with alliem on the fact that grades still matter overall. Would a good semester final help a student who was between two letter grades? Still, it sounds like it will work. Somebody made a comment about "earning points." I agree that the project sounds like a lot of work, but I don't think we should expect to be rewarded with points for everything we do.<BR/><BR/>Good luck with this project. I'm pretty jealous. I wish I had a class like that.Adrianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07833636363132071749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-18460352647624896122007-10-26T08:35:00.000-06:002007-10-26T08:35:00.000-06:00I do love the idea of being able to do a project a...I do love the idea of being able to do a project and truly put your all into something with out the pressure of a grade, i dont believe that it is fair to put your very best into something and then a teacher coming to you only to say, "its ok, "c" average! talk about CRUSHING. but anyhow, no grade will give us the opportunity to prove ourselves to be more worthy than just a regular old A or Bashleyb2008https://www.blogger.com/profile/08523617949773079414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-5205745895382647532007-10-26T07:39:00.000-06:002007-10-26T07:39:00.000-06:00I love the idea of making us learn for our own ben...I love the idea of making us learn for our own benenfit, rather than for the reward of a grade. I read Mrs. Gaffney's post, and I definately realize that this is a huge compliment to us, by placing so much responsibility on us. The only thing that I am worried about is those students who may blow off the final, but I have confidence in the students in my class, and know that they should excel the expectations placed on them. I think through this experiment, we can really change the way that teachers teach, and start up a change in the grading process. The final project definately exites me. It will be challenging, but I blieve we can step up to the plate and make things happen.Jackie.dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08056633359868080281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-48622974301363225282007-10-26T07:02:00.000-06:002007-10-26T07:02:00.000-06:00What a great idea, Anne. I am proud of you for ch...What a great idea, Anne. I am proud of you for challenging the system and having enough faith in your students that you are willing to say, "I know you will do this because this is what will help you learn". When we operate on a reward/ punishment system, no matter how many times we say "it's not about the grade", it still is. I hope your students recognize what a huge compliment this is to them.lgaffneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02664526771850226095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-70699164507933549132007-10-25T22:35:00.000-06:002007-10-25T22:35:00.000-06:00I agree with Samantha very much on this issue. I a...I agree with Samantha very much on this issue. I am sure that there are people in our class that are not specifically interested in English Lit. For students who aren't exactly passionate about Oedipus, Beowulf, or Hamlet grades can be a great motivation to work hard despite that. I know our class is very motivated and will not let down Ms. Smith with poor projects. Work quality is not an issue.However, our school and part of college admittance is based on a point system, therfor I would like to receive points for the work I know I will put in. It would be different if grades did not exist the entire semester, but they do. Since the final is supposed to be cumulative of our work for the semester, it should be worth points just as all our assignments were.alliemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16957423873795397192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-68980897230261143002007-10-25T22:26:00.000-06:002007-10-25T22:26:00.000-06:00I don't know how I feel about this. I like the fac...I don't know how I feel about this. I like the fact that it is not a grade, but rather an assesment of our education. I agree with Samantha when she says that everyone must be interested. Just because I find the literature very interesting and motivating, that doesn't mean that my peers will. Sam T. brings up many great points and ideas, leaving me thinking that we should give this a shot and go for it. I love the fact that you trust us enough to experiment and leave such a large one at that in our hands. That alone should motivate everyone, and if they are not motivated, you hold ultimate veto power anyways. In the words of Mr. Tidwell himself, "Let's embrace this and take it to its full potential."StevenDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14990499025231404664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-82118289106840787802007-10-25T20:27:00.000-06:002007-10-25T20:27:00.000-06:00I think that this is an awesome idea. I agree ver...I think that this is an awesome idea. I agree very much with Brookes. I think a lot of it is also to do with what Kyle has said. Personally, I think that we are just are too skeptical on what is going to happen with this. While we were talking in class, everyone kept saying, "I don't think it's going to work because only some of us are motivated enough to do it without a grade." I think that statement is absolute bologna. I think that the people who said that, are talking about themselves and just want a buffer just in case they have to cram it in the last night. C'mon guys, challenge yourselves, let's do this. We would be one of the first classes to do this and I think we need to just forget about the what if and just do what you know needs to be done. Don't doubt what you can do in school, make a difference now because this may be only one chance you get to change and improve your learning. Is that not what school is about? Let's learn, let's see how this works, let's step outside of what the grading system tells us. I say it is almost necessary for some of us to step out and follow through with this because some of us need to step out of our comfort zone. We are in a revolution today in school with the way teachers are teaching and the way we are learning as students. Let's embrace this and take it to its full potential.samthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13958651787977841297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32744448.post-5478889367950117542007-10-25T18:08:00.000-06:002007-10-25T18:08:00.000-06:00I feel like this might work and it might not. Hon...I feel like this might work and it might not. Honestly I don't really like the idea all that much. For this project everyone (the whole class) needs to be interested in what we are studying and doing this project. If this class was everyone's favorite class then it would work wonders... however... it may not be. English Literature is not something I feel I will peruse further study in in the future nor is it something that I chose to read on my spare time. For me motivation may be required, of course I will do the project no matter what and I will not let my group down. If it was my choice I would chose to have a point system.Samantha Ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08576590890703018615noreply@blogger.com