Alfie Kohn's article titled "From Degrading to De-Grading" is basically an argument about the ill effects that distributing letter grades has on students. Kohn lists three main reasons why giving students a letter grade for their learning is not a good idea:
One of the reasons that I very much agree with is Kohn's analysis of how the letter grade does not really say anything about the student's learning -- this is because it does not identify exactly where the student may need help or what they might understand. And, further, a letter grade can only reflect how a test or assignment was written. The student's performance can vary based on that factor alone.
Another reason letter grades are not a good idea, according to Kohn, is the time-consuming nature. Kohn makes the point that a lot of the time spent grading work and assigning letter grades is wasted -- when instead, this time should be spent on learning.
Some of the ideas that Kohn outlined in the article, such as the idea that assigning letter grades "encourages" cheating -- I do not really agree with. I think a lot more is at work with human nature and cheating -- and the inclination to cheat does not really have much to do how the class is structured, but more with how the teacher presents the atmosphere of the learning.
Those are my thoughts, for now! Kohn wrote a lot more about the subject, but I think those are the most important aspects of the article.
Citation: Kohn, Alfie. "From Degrading to De-Grading." AlfieKohn.Org. High School Magazine, 1999. Web. 6 Mar 2012. <http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/fdtd-g.htm>.
- There is a great reduction in student interest in subject matter;
- Students tend to complete what is required for the grade, and not more (no added creativity/efforts);
- Evidence that actual student thinking is not "quality" thinking.
One of the reasons that I very much agree with is Kohn's analysis of how the letter grade does not really say anything about the student's learning -- this is because it does not identify exactly where the student may need help or what they might understand. And, further, a letter grade can only reflect how a test or assignment was written. The student's performance can vary based on that factor alone.
Another reason letter grades are not a good idea, according to Kohn, is the time-consuming nature. Kohn makes the point that a lot of the time spent grading work and assigning letter grades is wasted -- when instead, this time should be spent on learning.
Some of the ideas that Kohn outlined in the article, such as the idea that assigning letter grades "encourages" cheating -- I do not really agree with. I think a lot more is at work with human nature and cheating -- and the inclination to cheat does not really have much to do how the class is structured, but more with how the teacher presents the atmosphere of the learning.
Those are my thoughts, for now! Kohn wrote a lot more about the subject, but I think those are the most important aspects of the article.
Citation: Kohn, Alfie. "From Degrading to De-Grading." AlfieKohn.Org. High School Magazine, 1999. Web. 6 Mar 2012. <http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/fdtd-g.htm>.
