3 ms·

> Students who perform should be ... encouraged to participate in competitions (these are ranked) ... > Grades are simply not the tool to use beyond the level

> Students who perform should be ... encouraged to participate in competitions (these are ranked) ... > Grades are simply not the tool to use beyond the level of "doing fine". I am having trouble square rooting these two seemingly opposite claims. I think you are saying: in a school environment, use grades only to measure degree-below-standard. Outside school, use competitive ranking to measure degree-above-standard. Close?

alexvoda 5y ago
Close. Competitions can be organized by schools too. These may be: competitions inside clubs, competitions between schools, olympiads, events with prises, etc. The point is that partitipation in the ranked system is OPTIONAL and meant to encourage performance. Grades are mandatory, are standard based, task completion based and are more a tool to detect issues. Ranking should not be mandatory because access to resources of all kinds is absolutely a factor influencing performance, and you want to keep the educational environment fair for everyone. Every student should be able to meet the standard using just the resources provided by the system. Those who don't, should repeat the year until they do. Only one student will become a champion. If a student is not able to meet the standard, it is a signal that a investigation is needed. Are there family issues? Does the student have a propper learning environment? Are they suffering from stress? Is there an issue with regards to comaptibility with the teacher? What can be done to improove the situation? The same way in a good MMO adventure game you can stick to story mode and enjoy the game, but a some people will go PvP and compete for the rankings. PvP should not be mandatory, especially if microtransactions are used for items that influence the game. And in real life, some students absolutely benefit from the equivalent of in game microtransactions, and some do not. And this is not likely to change any time soon.
- mattcwilson 5y ago
  Cool, I totally get it. How do we stop higher education and employers from setting “competition rank” as the new standard?
  - alexvoda 5y ago
    Good question. I believe it already happens, even if not always visibly. Reality is nor fair. Some people will probably propose legislation in order to maintain equality of opportunity. I do not know what the solution is. Note: I am pro standardized tests at certain checkpoints in education. But I am against, focussing on grades in day to day school life, especially in primary and middle school. In high school, I am for frequent tests (so much so that they should not be a stress), but without those tests contributing to some ranking or having an effect at some final score. Frequent tests should be more of a feedback tool.
    - mattcwilson 5y ago
      Sounds good. I’m not sure I know any better solution either. I really like: > I am for frequent tests (so much so that they should not be a stress), but without those tests contributing to some ranking or having an effect at some final score. Frequent tests should be more of a feedback tool. Definitely would work to convey the sense of contwnt mastery to the student, and if done in a no-shame, expect-to-start-bad-and-get-better way, an excellent feedback tool. Thank you for the dialogue!

alexvoda 5y ago

Close. Competitions can be organized by schools too. These may be: competitions inside clubs, competitions between schools, olympiads, events with prises, etc. The point is that partitipation in the ranked system is OPTIONAL and meant to encourage performance. Grades are mandatory, are standard based, task completion based and are more a tool to detect issues. Ranking should not be mandatory because access to resources of all kinds is absolutely a factor influencing performance, and you want to keep the educational environment fair for everyone. Every student should be able to meet the standard using just the resources provided by the system. Those who don't, should repeat the year until they do. Only one student will become a champion. If a student is not able to meet the standard, it is a signal that a investigation is needed. Are there family issues? Does the student have a propper learning environment? Are they suffering from stress? Is there an issue with regards to comaptibility with the teacher? What can be done to improove the situation? The same way in a good MMO adventure game you can stick to story mode and enjoy the game, but a some people will go PvP and compete for the rankings. PvP should not be mandatory, especially if microtransactions are used for items that influence the game. And in real life, some students absolutely benefit from the equivalent of in game microtransactions, and some do not. And this is not likely to change any time soon.

mattcwilson 5y ago
Cool, I totally get it. How do we stop higher education and employers from setting “competition rank” as the new standard?
- alexvoda 5y ago
  Good question. I believe it already happens, even if not always visibly. Reality is nor fair. Some people will probably propose legislation in order to maintain equality of opportunity. I do not know what the solution is. Note: I am pro standardized tests at certain checkpoints in education. But I am against, focussing on grades in day to day school life, especially in primary and middle school. In high school, I am for frequent tests (so much so that they should not be a stress), but without those tests contributing to some ranking or having an effect at some final score. Frequent tests should be more of a feedback tool.
  - mattcwilson 5y ago
    Sounds good. I’m not sure I know any better solution either. I really like: > I am for frequent tests (so much so that they should not be a stress), but without those tests contributing to some ranking or having an effect at some final score. Frequent tests should be more of a feedback tool. Definitely would work to convey the sense of contwnt mastery to the student, and if done in a no-shame, expect-to-start-bad-and-get-better way, an excellent feedback tool. Thank you for the dialogue!