Understanding Standards-Based Grading Systems and How It Improves the Quality of Education
The article focuses on the new innovation in education as an introduction to tutors and parents to better improve the child’s performance. Instead of a single overall grade like Mathematics 95% = A, standards-based grading breaks down one subject matter into smaller learning targets like, Mathematical components are broken down into: “I can find the sum of two digit-numbers = 3, I can define a number sentence = 2, I can find the difference of two-digit number = 2. The ability of teachers to track the students’ progress enables them to custom make the instructions to fit the individual student needs according to their performance in each of the “learning targets”. Is therefore follows that standards-based trading systems use a different grading scale from traditional grading methods. The interpretation is that students who have grades A and B are the most competent as they can fulfil most of instruction as the teacher willed. Standards-based grading on the other hand is based on any demonstration of mastery of a subject. Typical skills of 1-4 reflect student’s increasing skill in the subject and an instructor can know how to well address the issue from the progress. Teachers present introductory lessons on the start of a new target and as students’ progress, they are presented with much more complicated material. Some of the students’ progress immediately they receive instructions but most of them do not. A continuous understanding of the student’s mastery by the teacher makes them to adopt to the individual instructional needs and discourses education to be more effective and engaging.
Traditional grading systems simply give cause such as 9/10 or 85% for a certain completion of work which is not as effective as teachers giving feedback on the tests performed and the skills used. Positive environments such as these can speed up a student’s learning as they feel they have a proper relationship with the instructor. “Learning targets” in standards-based grading written in student-friendly language so as they can understand the cause of the instructions well. Students can self-assess themselves and be able to reflect upon their own performance.
Standard-based grading systems neutralize this problem as the teachers will know which students are in level 1, 2 or 3 and enables the instructor to offer a level appropriate work to improve the students. This particular kind of instruction is called “differentiated instruction” or simply DI in short.
This enables them to achieve high levels of enjoyment in school while sustaining high levels of effort and achievement. In traditional grading systems students with fewer mistakes and the highest grades and depending on the type of the mistake, it is impossible to recover and a good grade if a student doesn’t fit well in the instructional system.