This is the start of finals week and it is time to let the begging and pleading commence. I like to give production tests where a student creates something. It can be anything from a program, a cybersecurity incident report on an image, or a part and drawing in engineering. I feel better about those and it also allows for the students to have some creativity and feel a part of the process and not just answer multiple-choice questions. This also gives a sense of the real world and is a great way to practice doing things “under pressure.” I also need to prepare them for the end-of-course exam that they will take in May. I want them to be truly tested on the content and not on their ability to navigate the testing environment. This year I will be using a PLTW interim exam that I created. It uses the end-of-course environment with scenarios. It is a good way to assess the kids in different areas but still get them ready for May. The environment involves scenarios and 4 to 5 questions based on the scenario. What I like is that it can be a simple multiple-choice but also can be matching, sequencing, and evaluations based on simulations.
I have already had the question “how many points do I need to pass the quarter?” When I have a student like that I am prepared and can do a quick calculation before they even ask. This year the student asked me last Friday and I had to tell him that he needed 130 points to get a D for the quarter. He then follows up with the obvious question: “how many points is the final?” I told him the truth that it was 50 points. You can see the wheels churning in his head to realize that there aren’t going to be 80 extra credit points on the final. This is where my heart comes out. I don’t let him get away. I told him that he had been in class almost every day and that he had tried on every activity. I told him to come in for the final and don’t give up and we will see what happens. This is my well know flaunting of the rules because I have my own policy. If a student has come to class 90% of the days and works hard when they are there, I will never fail them. This is important to me and it is important that the students know it as well. Learning happens in a lot of ways and occasionally the lesson is to have a failing grade. What is more often the lesson in my class is that if you come in every day and give me your best you will have success. It may not be a high grade but it is that hard work does pay off, even if it is in small measures. For the record, the young man came in and gave it his best and he passed with a C for the quarter.