Can someone explain to me the features of the 'learning curve'. I only just found out that teachers grade people's work against other students in the class, and it's something to do with "scaling", especially in English.

I'm just curious on how it works, because I was told was getting a 19/20 for an oral presentation, because I presented my speech early on, then later, my teacher then gave me an 18/20, saying that she marked on a learning curve, where the class was marked against each other. She didn't tell me how the learning curve worked, and said I should be a teacher if I really wanted to know.

I think you're referring to the "bell curve" in grading, which some teachers use and others do not.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_curve_grading

That's quite different from what "learning curve" means.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_curve

Let us know if you have further questions.

Grading of students is an individual thing. Although the "bell curve" (normal distribution) is used by many teachers, where they make the cut off points for particular grades is an individual affair.

When I first start a particular course, I use the normal distribution. However, if over the years, I notice a consistency in student scoring to my type of tests, I make specific cutoff points for various grades.

Here is the grading scale I used.

Your final grade will be determined by total points on an overall curve of all sections of this course. Excluding the grade insurance (mentioned below), the highest possible score is 360 points (i.e., four 50-point exams, a 100-point final, and four 15-point papers). The approximate grading curve based on total points earned for the course is indicated below.

295+ = A
255+ = B
215+ = C
145+ = Pass

Within 10 points below each of the above grade designations will be considered "on the line." The higher grade may be awarded at the instructor's discretion. The instructor's discretion will be related to unexcused absences, class participation and other related factors. If an exam is missed and is averaged, the instructor's discretionary area will no longer apply.


However, my courses were at a college level. I do not know what your level is. Even so, if a student wanted to know why they get a particular grade, I am will to try to explain it to them.

It seems that you are not sure whether your teacher has a specific grading criterion for the grade change or she just cannot justify the change and does not want to admit it.

If you feel the change is unjustified — and this is extremely important to you — you could take the matter to the teacher's supervisor. However, this is likely to result in ill feelings from the teacher that might bias her grading even more. You have to decide whether this important enough to take the risk.

I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.

The concept of a learning curve is often used in educational settings to evaluate and compare students' performance over time. It involves analyzing how students progress and improve as they gain more knowledge and experience in a particular subject or skill. In the context you mentioned, it seems that your teacher is grading assignments based on the relative performance of the class as a whole, rather than solely against specific criteria or standards.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to understand the learning curve concept in relation to your situation:

1. Assess the assignment: Understand the specific assignment or task that you were given, in this case, the oral presentation.

2. Initial grade: Your teacher initially awarded you a grade of 19/20 for your presentation, which indicates that it was seen as very well done, possibly with few or no flaws according to the evaluation criteria.

3. Learning curve adjustment: The subsequent grade of 18/20 suggests that your teacher adjusted your score based on how well the rest of the class performed as they delivered their presentations. Essentially, your grade is being compared and evaluated relative to others in the class rather than being an absolute measure of your achievement.

4. Class performance: The teacher likely evaluated the overall quality of the presentations by considering factors such as content, delivery, coherence, or any other relevant criteria that had been established for that assignment.

5. Distribution of grades: It's possible that your teacher used a grading scale or distribution of grades based on the performance of the entire class. This means that your grade might be influenced by how others performed relative to you.

6. Impact on your grade: The adjustment can be seen as an attempt to account for the variations in student performance and to ensure fairness in the grading process. It is aimed at reflecting your relative performance within the class rather than assigning an absolute grade.

7. Seeking clarification: If you want more specific information about how the learning curve works in your classroom, it may be worth asking your teacher or discussing it during office hours. Teachers are usually willing to explain their grading methods and provide feedback to help students understand their performance better.

Remember, grading on a learning curve is just one approach a teacher might use, and different instructors may have varying methods and philosophies when it comes to evaluating student work.