Re: Eric and Fred's ideas on grading

[Eric Crump <wleric@everest.cclabs.missouri.edu>]

I did something similar, Paula. 

Basically, I attempted to distribute authority, something that gets 
talked about a lot but is very difficult to accomplish. Can't claim my 
class was completely successful. When I asserted that I would not *give* 
grades to anyone, that everyone would determine their own grade based on 
their own criteria, some flat out didn't believe it. Some tried to 
believe. A few got it. 

And those who couldn't manage to really grasp the authority laid at their 
feet are blameless. The situation was utterly anomalous in their 
educational experience. Sort of like someone walking up to you on the 
street, someone you've never met, and saying you can have three wishes. 
Any sane person will be very skeptical.

by the way, I also had a number of students ask that their list and 
moospace be kept available so they could keep in touch. Whatever else 
went right or wrong in that class, this evidence of a sense of community 
made the whole thing worthwhile for me.

--Eric

// Eric Crump
\\ wleric@cclabs.missouri.edu
   --------------------------
// "Quality is not a *thing.* It is an *event.*
\\                            --Robert Pirsig