Some teachers have asked about the fairness of weighing multiple choice, true and false, and extended response questions equally. You don't usually do that in your traditional classroom, do you? The VLA system is currently set up to give equal weight to each question. So what do you do when a student only completes the multiple choice and true/false questions? Can you count the unit complete if they don't even attempt to answer the questions that take more thought and research?
The VLA system automatically calculates a student's percentage on each unit you grade. However, as the teacher, you have complete control over the final grade that is earned for each unit. That means that you can give a different weight to questions that require more effort.
For example, in my English courses, the students compose a variety of types of paragraphs. They may have 20 multiple choice/short answer questions along with a paragraph to write. If they complete the 20 multiple choice/short answer questions and skip the paragraph, the VLA system shows their percentage as a 95%. That can't be! They skipped the most important part of the unit! What's a VLA teacher to do?
When this happens, I simply grade all of the questions, marking the paragraph Redo. I override the calculated grade in the peach box. I delete the 95 and type in 40. To me, the paragraph should be worth at least 60% of the points in this particular example. With a grade of 40%, the student would have to redo the unit. In the comment box, I let them know that the paragraph was the most important part of the unit, and I tell them that it must be written (and written well!) for the unit to be considered complete.
If you have other strategies for handling this problem, please share them. Click the Comments link below this post. Then send your idea via the comment form. I'll be sure to post the ideas for everyone.
If you're a teacher who wants more ideas, you can read the comments left on this post by clicking the Comments link.
The VLA system automatically calculates a student's percentage on each unit you grade. However, as the teacher, you have complete control over the final grade that is earned for each unit. That means that you can give a different weight to questions that require more effort.
For example, in my English courses, the students compose a variety of types of paragraphs. They may have 20 multiple choice/short answer questions along with a paragraph to write. If they complete the 20 multiple choice/short answer questions and skip the paragraph, the VLA system shows their percentage as a 95%. That can't be! They skipped the most important part of the unit! What's a VLA teacher to do?
When this happens, I simply grade all of the questions, marking the paragraph Redo. I override the calculated grade in the peach box. I delete the 95 and type in 40. To me, the paragraph should be worth at least 60% of the points in this particular example. With a grade of 40%, the student would have to redo the unit. In the comment box, I let them know that the paragraph was the most important part of the unit, and I tell them that it must be written (and written well!) for the unit to be considered complete.
If you have other strategies for handling this problem, please share them. Click the Comments link below this post. Then send your idea via the comment form. I'll be sure to post the ideas for everyone.
If you're a teacher who wants more ideas, you can read the comments left on this post by clicking the Comments link.
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