Two of my classes generated very different results:
Class 1 Class 2
5 - 14% 5 - 11%
4 - 61% 4 - 26%
3 - 22% 3 - 13%
2 - 3% 2 - 39%
1 - 0% 1 - 24%
Both classes had few that got all 5 correct (one question was the
first question of the course involving a graph), but note that
Class 1 had 75% 4 & 5s, while Class 2 had 37% of the same. Or,
Class 1 had 4% with 2 & 1s, while Class 2 had 63%.
While the questions were different, they were of the same difficulty.
Class 1 is at 9:30, and Class 2 is at 1:00.
What to do? Last semester I had a similar situation, and I don't
want to repeat it. Thus, I'd really, REALLY like to deal with it
now. Yet, how to motivate Class 2 to do better? From past experience,
if you tell them that you're disapointed, morale seems to drop a
LOT and performance doesn't budge. If I mention what will happen
if I performance doesn't pick up, that seems to be a bit too much
of a stick. Also, mentioning Class 1 to Class 2 does not seem like
a good idea. I tend to think that a low key approach is best --
"Results could have been better. Here's what you need to do..."
But, I'm curious what others do. Thoughts?
I might add that this is the prime reason I don't curve grades
(but, that is a whole other topic).
- Bill
--
.---. Bill Goffe Bill.Goffe@usm.edu
( | Dept. of Econ. and International Business office: (601) 266-4484
)__*| University of Southern Mississippi fax: (601) 266-4920
(_| Southern Station, Box 5072
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5072