another anthro blog

Q: How do numerical values being placed on your work motivate you?

A: Numerical values being placed on my work do not motivate me or de-motivate me. As far as I am concerned, the work is a process and the grade is but an aspect of that process. If part of the process is learning, then the grade can be used as a communicative tool to open up a space for dialogue, exchange and potentially more learning…
In my case, usually grades tend to confirm what I already know which is either:
A) I did not work hard enough and it is reflected in my mark (if I get a poor grade)
B) I did not work hard enough and it is reflected in my mark (if I get top marks)

….

You make it sound so easy

I know that my comments on this subject will easily marginalize me further, but I do not have a clue as to why we are in the grading business in universities, and by business I mean that in all senses. I can imagine a diploma that certifies participation, or qualitative assessments on research papers, but the reduction of qualities down to quantities is something that I find very disturbing, objectionable, and I can assure you that I resent giving grades more than any of my students may resent what they get. I suspect most would not believe me.

Somehow my attempts to censor myself have become the hottest discussion on this blog! So be it, but yes, marking sucks. I tried my hand at marking some papers this semester and part of me died…

I don’t think I’ve met a teacher who actually enjoys putting marks on paper - but fellow grad students seem to love it - and teachers seem to be quite happy leaving it to grad students. It reminds me of some Buddhists having other people kill animals so that they can eat it without suffering bad karma

Actually, most people avoid killing animals themselves - pardon me I’ll take this over to the peta forum.