CS301 Class #6 Spring 2002
March 1, 2002

The Other Side of the Fence

Clint Ryan<ryanc@cs>
Allsion Coates<allisonc@cs>
Michael Downes<mdownes@eecs>

Class outline

• Welcome (+ handouts)
• Dan and Chris can't make it today, so the veterans Clint, Allison and Michael will lead the discussion.
• Videotaping will for sure, for sure begin next week. Chris will start contacting some groups over the weekend.
• Guest speakers: (45; each 15)
  • Allison Coates <allisonc@cs.berkeley.edu>
  • Clint Ryan <ryanc@cs.berkeley.edu>
  • Michael Downes <mdownes@eecs.berkeley.edu>
• Break
• HowDidItGo(tm) (15)
  • In particular, let's talk about the evaluations you conducted in class.
• Let's Discuss(tm) (10)
  • Talk about the readings from last week
• Homework:
  • Tools for Teaching
    • Chapter VIII (sec 28-34) "Testing and Grading"
  • How Children Fail by John Holt
    • Part IV: How Schools Fail. pp. 227-268
    • Part V: To Summarize. pp. 269-298
  • Journal topics:
    • Do you believe in absolute or relative (i.e., curve) grading and why?
    • In a course with an absolute grading scale, do you think that students should be able to know their exact grade in the course at all times? Why or why not?
    • What if the grade were less specific (bigger buckets) (e.g. you're doing well, you're doing ok, you'd better improve)?
    • How do you think this knowledge might affect their stress level and/or their degree of "grade grubbing"?
    • Do you believe we should give grades at all? I.e., does the act of giving grades somehow mean that they're in school for the sole purpose of getting As instead of for the purity of acquiring knowledge?
  • Heads Up! Video Reflection
    • Between March 4 and March 31, we will video record one of your sections and go over it with you.
      • Look for things that you do well
      • Look for things you can improve
      • Look for things you should stop doing
      • Give you feedback in areas you are interested
        • (e.g. student participation, pacing, sequencing, chalkboard use, handling student questions, summarizing discussion, interactions amongst students, group work, etc.)
    • We will need you to sign up for several time slots online.
      1. A 15 minute pre-section meeting the day before your section
      2. The section time you want taped.
      3. A 2 hour block of time to go over the video tape within 2-3 days of that section.