RE: Grading Students

["John Borio" <JBorio@fiberguide.com>]

Grading students
Since the topic is grading students against a desired level of ability,
Perhaps a quick review of the difference between Education and Training
might be in order. And the different learning reference each take.

Education:   Generally speaking Educational institutions (K-12,
Universities) take the "Norm Reference" approach w/final exams, A, B, C,
D and F.  Norm Referenced speaking = a bell shaped curve with C in the
middle "A" and "F" and the training edges.  "Norm"ally as many students
get an "A" as received an "F."   The Norm is often defined by the state
as a minimum standard for graduation.  For example if your daughter
receives a "B" in Sex Education the state determines that she has the
aquired the required  cognitive information about Sex to graduate, where
babies come from, how to avoid experience of having a baby, etc.   

Training:   Generally, Training departments (Vocational High Schools,
Technical Colleges, Business, Military) take a Criterion Referenced
approach.  Criterion Reference student must be able to perform a
specific skill, or describe, in an observable way, a cognitive ability
with in a set of parameters: For example Seaman Recruit Jones must be
able to swim in a swimming pool unaided for 5 minutes.  If the Seaman
Recruit can swim, she receives orders to the fleet, if she can't she
must continue to practice until she can, and if she has a fear of water
and never can, is subject to discharge from the Navy.  In other words
the Navy has determined (the criterion) that all people in uniform will
be able to swim.  And if I was to use your daughter as an example
well... Sex Training would be... something I'd rather not think about in
fear that our public education system might think it a good idea.    

In my mind grades are irrelevant in training and in education. The only
grade that interests me is the ability (knowledge and skills) of the
person to perform.   The next time you fly, think "is this a Norm
Referenced or Criterion Referenced pilot at the controls?" and what
grade did she receive?  That EP-3 pilot who was forced down over China,
..... he passed.  Training is provided to bridge a gap between what I
know and what I need to know (or do).  Grades do not tell me if they
can.

In a Norm Referenced High school chemistry class the student must score
at least a "D" in determining the boiling point of water
In a Criterion Referenced High School Chemistry class the student must
be able to perform the water boiling experiment, and if they can't they
do not move to the next class, period.

"Grades" determine nothing about performance.  In closing I would like
to refer to my bell shaped curve in a norm referenced environment.  Why
can't Johnny read his HS diploma, because in every class he was in, if
no one earned an "A" the teacher was expected to skew the curve, all the
B's got A's and all the F's got D's and Johnny was skewed out of his
education.  

John Borio
Performance Director
Fiberguide Industries
208.454.1988 (ex: 107)