PAC - Instructor Guidebook - Grading | College of Health and Human Sciences

Grading

Policies

The instructor has a great deal of freedom to determine the method of assigning students grades. There are two policies to follow when determining methods of grading. Because PAC includes one academic credit, the course must contain educational content beyond activity and students should be held accountable for this material. The main objective however, is active participation; therefore participation can be used to determine part of the grade, but it cannot comprise more than 80% of the grade (Activity Committee Policy, Spring, 1994). Also, attendance by itself cannot be used as a grade determinant, but participation can be used. In activity areas with several sections the activity facilitator and instructors within that area may have established grading policies that new instructors will be asked to adopt. It is strongly suggested that instructors refrain from predicting grades for students when actual grades have not been computed. Clear communication with the student about his/her grade is extremely important, and individual grades must be discussed privately with a student.

Participation Policies

This statement must be included in the course outline: Students who add a class before the third class meeting will not have absences up to [insert date of 3rd class] counted against their final grade.

Obviously, students who participated even though they had not officially added the class will not be counted absent. Only partial participation credit should be given for students who are tardy, leave early, or do not participate to the full extent during the class.

Course Outline

Each student must receive a Course Outline that states objectives for the class and methods of determining the final grade. Each written objective should be measurable and reflected in the grading procedure. The method of determining grades should never be changed once established and communicated in writing to the student; however, if an adjustment is necessary, students must receive a revised evaluation policy. The section on grading must be given percentages for each grading item. In addition, the instructor’s grading scale must be included. The University uses the +/- system; should the instructor not intend to use the +/- system, this must be stated in the Course Outline.

Suggested Material

There are several methods of grading, but only five will be suggested. Facilitators may have additional suggestions. Overall, a point system may be used whereby each graded item carries certain points. E.g. participation, 15 pts./day (300 total); written exam, 50 points; daily log, 150 pts. Total = 500 points. Another system is to assign grades for each item. E.g. Weighted average of [participation: 0 absences = A, 1 absence = A-, 2 absences = B+, etc.]; average of 3 graded in-class worksheets; graded take-home exam. In this method, a number system is used to represent each grade. E.g. A = 11, A- = 10, B+ = 9, etc. The average of all items represents the final grade.

A third method is to grade everything on percentage and then average or total those percentages. E.g. participation is the actual percentage of time the student participates in class based on the total number of possible sessions; the exam percentage; the out-of-class assignment percentage; and the skills checklist percentage. To get the final grade, each percentage is multiplied by the weighted percent in order to get 100%. E.g.: 50% of grade is participation; so, the actual percent is multiplied by 5; the test is 25% of the final grade; so, the actual percent is multiplied by 2.5; and the skills test average is 25% of the total; so, this average is multiplied by 25. The three totals are added, and the grade is assigned based on instructor’s grading scale.

A fourth method involves a contract with the student. The contract may be merely defined by instructor and the student chooses the level at which he/she chooses to work, or it may be a signed contract between instructor and student. The instructor determines the options for determining the grade, and the student chooses the options and the weighted percentage.

Another method that is used is to determine the grade without the participation assuming that the student will have a perfect participation record. The final grade is then lowered if the student does not have a perfect participation record. In reality many instructors allow one or two excusable absences before the grade is affected. A modification of this is to allow a certain number of absences to be made up in a specified manner. The aerobic dance instructors allow this and provide a form that is to be completed by the student in order to get make-up credit. See the Forms Section for the aerobic dance form and the Teaching Suggestions section of an example of this type of grading.

Make-Ups

Allowing for make-up sections is not as easy as it sounds. Any time a student is allowed to make up a class by attending another PAC, the instructor of that class must agree. In general, this is not an accepted procedure. What is more acceptable is to set up standards for a make up outside of PAC and a means for accounting for this make up. Keep in mind that non-PAC instructors should not be asked to verify participation by your students. E.g: Lifeguards are not to sign that a swimming student has been swimming at Dixon Pool.

End of Term Logistics

All grading is now done via on-line services. Grades can either be entered manually through in-line services, or the Blackboard record of the class grades can be downloaded to on-line services. The PAC Office will notify instructors of deadlines for entering grades that must be met without exception. Because PAClasses are completed before Final Week, grades can be completed ahead of the deadline and are to be turned in immediately when completed. All classes do not have to be recorded at the same time. When turning in spring term grades, instructors leaving campus are required to turn in justification for the grades. Generally a description of the grading policy is helpful, also. The purpose of this is to provide information after the term to the student who might question the grade computation, and the instructor cannot be located or has left the University. Instructors should print a copy of the final grades for their records. Grades are not to be posted in any manner other than on Blackboard.

Incomplete Grades

If a student has completed most everything in class but has a conflict arise that prevents him/her from completing some requirements, the instructor may issue an incomplete Grade. This option must be discussed with the student or defined on the Course Outline. The I grade is most appropriate for students who get injured or become ill at the end of the term and need more time to complete an assignment. A maximum of five class periods may be made up. The instructor enters an I on the final grade report. If the student would fail even if the incomplete were to be made up, the appropriate grade is “F”. The University allows one year to complete the class, but the instructor may shorten this time stipulation. When the student meets all requirements the instructor completes the appropriate form. See Forms Section. Incomplete grades are not appropriate in situations where students have not met deadlines clearly communicated by the instructor. In these circumstances the grade is figured with a zero score for work not completed. More information can be obtained on-line. Any questions concerning issuing incomplete grades may be discussed with the PAC coordinator. Final exams are not taken in PAC.

Changes in Grade

If an error in computation or recording is discovered after grades have been turned in, and the error changes the overall grade, the instructor completes a Change of Grade From. (See Forms) Excessive use of this procedure reflects poorly on the instructor and the PAC Program. The form must be signed by both the Chair and Dean. Instructors are cautioned to pay careful attention when figuring and recording grades. The form is not to be used because a student turns in work after grades are recorded assuming there are no extenuating circumstances.

Alternative Grading Systems

The instructor assumes that all students are on a graded system, but the student may choose the S/U system (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). The instructor makes no distinction in grading system for S/U students and will not know who is on this system. The student must earn at least a C- in order to receive an S grade. The University allows students to audit a class, which means there will not be a grade assigned. These students do not need to do any required work. This system is discouraged within the PAC Program; however, there are some rare circumstances when an audit is more practical. Usually this involves an older graduate student or a non-degree student. If someone wants to audit a class which has limited enrollment, he/she may not be given permission until the end of the first week of add/drop. Auditing students pay the PAC fee, and they must be enrolled students. Another category of students is a faculty or staff member enrolled through the Faculty Staff Fitness (FSF) Program which is administered through NES. Instructors must give permission for this situation to occur. The director of the FSF Program is located in Langton Hall 123. All PAC students must be connected to the University and be enrolled in some fashion. All students must pay the Activity Class fee. Students who drop or withdraw cannot continue to attend class.


	Limit results to this site.		Health and Human Sciences » Exercise and Sport Science » Physical Activity Courses » PAC Instructor Guidebook » Grading. Grading Policies The instructor has a great deal of freedom to determine the method of assigning students grades. There are two policies to follow when determining methods of grading. Because PAC includes one academic credit, the course must contain educational content beyond activity and students should be held accountable for this material. The main objective however, is active participation; therefore participation can be used to determine part of the grade, but it cannot comprise more than 80% of the grade (Activity Committee Policy, Spring, 1994). Also, attendance by itself cannot be used as a grade determinant, but participation can be used. In activity areas with several sections the activity facilitator and instructors within that area may have established grading policies that new instructors will be asked to adopt. It is strongly suggested that instructors refrain from predicting grades for students when actual grades have not been computed. Clear communication with the student about his/her grade is extremely important, and individual grades must be discussed privately with a student. Participation Policies This statement must be included in the course outline: Students who add a class before the third class meeting will not have absences up to [insert date of 3rd class] counted against their final grade. Obviously, students who participated even though they had not officially added the class will not be counted absent. Only partial participation credit should be given for students who are tardy, leave early, or do not participate to the full extent during the class. Course Outline Each student must receive a Course Outline that states objectives for the class and methods of determining the final grade. Each written objective should be measurable and reflected in the grading procedure. The method of determining grades should never be changed once established and communicated in writing to the student; however, if an adjustment is necessary, students must receive a revised evaluation policy. The section on grading must be given percentages for each grading item. In addition, the instructor’s grading scale must be included. The University uses the +/- system; should the instructor not intend to use the +/- system, this must be stated in the Course Outline. Suggested Material There are several methods of grading, but only five will be suggested. Facilitators may have additional suggestions. Overall, a point system may be used whereby each graded item carries certain points. E.g. participation, 15 pts./day (300 total); written exam, 50 points; daily log, 150 pts. Total = 500 points. Another system is to assign grades for each item. E.g. Weighted average of [participation: 0 absences = A, 1 absence = A-, 2 absences = B+, etc.]; average of 3 graded in-class worksheets; graded take-home exam. In this method, a number system is used to represent each grade. E.g. A = 11, A- = 10, B+ = 9, etc. The average of all items represents the final grade. A third method is to grade everything on percentage and then average or total those percentages. E.g. participation is the actual percentage of time the student participates in class based on the total number of possible sessions; the exam percentage; the out-of-class assignment percentage; and the skills checklist percentage. To get the final grade, each percentage is multiplied by the weighted percent in order to get 100%. E.g.: 50% of grade is participation; so, the actual percent is multiplied by 5; the test is 25% of the final grade; so, the actual percent is multiplied by 2.5; and the skills test average is 25% of the total; so, this average is multiplied by 25. The three totals are added, and the grade is assigned based on instructor’s grading scale. A fourth method involves a contract with the student. The contract may be merely defined by instructor and the student chooses the level at which he/she chooses to work, or it may be a signed contract between instructor and student. The instructor determines the options for determining the grade, and the student chooses the options and the weighted percentage. Another method that is used is to determine the grade without the participation assuming that the student will have a perfect participation record. The final grade is then lowered if the student does not have a perfect participation record. In reality many instructors allow one or two excusable absences before the grade is affected. A modification of this is to allow a certain number of absences to be made up in a specified manner. The aerobic dance instructors allow this and provide a form that is to be completed by the student in order to get make-up credit. See the Forms Section for the aerobic dance form and the Teaching Suggestions section of an example of this type of grading. Make-Ups Allowing for make-up sections is not as easy as it sounds. Any time a student is allowed to make up a class by attending another PAC, the instructor of that class must agree. In general, this is not an accepted procedure. What is more acceptable is to set up standards for a make up outside of PAC and a means for accounting for this make up. Keep in mind that non-PAC instructors should not be asked to verify participation by your students. E.g: Lifeguards are not to sign that a swimming student has been swimming at Dixon Pool. End of Term Logistics All grading is now done via on-line services. Grades can either be entered manually through in-line services, or the Blackboard record of the class grades can be downloaded to on-line services. The PAC Office will notify instructors of deadlines for entering grades that must be met without exception. Because PAClasses are completed before Final Week, grades can be completed ahead of the deadline and are to be turned in immediately when completed. All classes do not have to be recorded at the same time. When turning in spring term grades, instructors leaving campus are required to turn in justification for the grades. Generally a description of the grading policy is helpful, also. The purpose of this is to provide information after the term to the student who might question the grade computation, and the instructor cannot be located or has left the University. Instructors should print a copy of the final grades for their records. Grades are not to be posted in any manner other than on Blackboard. Incomplete Grades If a student has completed most everything in class but has a conflict arise that prevents him/her from completing some requirements, the instructor may issue an incomplete Grade. This option must be discussed with the student or defined on the Course Outline. The I grade is most appropriate for students who get injured or become ill at the end of the term and need more time to complete an assignment. A maximum of five class periods may be made up. The instructor enters an I on the final grade report. If the student would fail even if the incomplete were to be made up, the appropriate grade is “F”. The University allows one year to complete the class, but the instructor may shorten this time stipulation. When the student meets all requirements the instructor completes the appropriate form. See Forms Section. Incomplete grades are not appropriate in situations where students have not met deadlines clearly communicated by the instructor. In these circumstances the grade is figured with a zero score for work not completed. More information can be obtained on-line. Any questions concerning issuing incomplete grades may be discussed with the PAC coordinator. Final exams are not taken in PAC. Changes in Grade If an error in computation or recording is discovered after grades have been turned in, and the error changes the overall grade, the instructor completes a Change of Grade From. (See Forms) Excessive use of this procedure reflects poorly on the instructor and the PAC Program. The form must be signed by both the Chair and Dean. Instructors are cautioned to pay careful attention when figuring and recording grades. The form is not to be used because a student turns in work after grades are recorded assuming there are no extenuating circumstances. Alternative Grading Systems The instructor assumes that all students are on a graded system, but the student may choose the S/U system (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory). The instructor makes no distinction in grading system for S/U students and will not know who is on this system. The student must earn at least a C- in order to receive an S grade. The University allows students to audit a class, which means there will not be a grade assigned. These students do not need to do any required work. This system is discouraged within the PAC Program; however, there are some rare circumstances when an audit is more practical. Usually this involves an older graduate student or a non-degree student. If someone wants to audit a class which has limited enrollment, he/she may not be given permission until the end of the first week of add/drop. Auditing students pay the PAC fee, and they must be enrolled students. Another category of students is a faculty or staff member enrolled through the Faculty Staff Fitness (FSF) Program which is administered through NES. Instructors must give permission for this situation to occur. The director of the FSF Program is located in Langton Hall 123. All PAC students must be connected to the University and be enrolled in some fashion. All students must pay the Activity Class fee. Students who drop or withdraw cannot continue to attend class.