Site simulates grades for classes
It's amazing that this hasn't been going on at yale. The YDN used to compile reviews of the major lecture courses including grade distributions back in the '70's. They sold them as a course guide at the start of the year. I think that the reviews sheets were handed out to the students at the end of each semester and then the YDN compiled the data along with a written critique of the course.
of course the yale oci wont show grades because people fill out their evals before they see their final grade. why that makes sense, i'll never know.
an obvious sop to the profs.
This is one of the funniest things I've ever read. Students really think this is in their interest?
Just wait until you see what Yale's grade distribution looks like -- no, better, wait until potential employers and graduate schools get a look at Yale's grade distribution. Do you REALLY want to advertise Yale's average GPA (which is rumored to be a 3.7 or 3.8)?
The current grading system is very, very inflated compared to many other schools. Once that gets out, an A won't mean anything coming from Yale.
Do you want to force the administration to do something about grade inflation? Because publicizing grades will certainly do that.
Contrary to what this article seems to espouse, open access to grades was not the reason I started gradifi. It was to make the process of course selection and academic organization one in which the students have more power than they ever have before.
The current grading system is flawed, everyone knows it, yet not willing to do anything about it. Hiding this information hurts everybody and even our President, Richard Levin, knows it. Employers already know that Yalies benefit from good grades. It's _how_ good they are with respect to their peers that makes the difference. And regardless of what grading scale you use, the good students will always be above the average and the bad students below. It's knowing what that average is that is helpful. Hopefully, employers see the benefit in this, and students will also see the benefit in knowing where they stand.
Information is a good thing, regardless of how you want to spin it. I'd rather hire someone from an institution that gives grades honestly than one with an astronomical GPA from Yale, where according to you, grades don't mean anything. I pray that the current grading system changes. You seem to be scared about this--I think it would be a slap in the face to those who see this as an elitist institution.
I consider myself a good student. I'll be an even better one with the use of gradifi!!
I can't believe I didn't think of this myself! Damn!! You Yalies.
I would be honored to have my course reviewed on gradifi, to see what my students think of the course, and to compare the grades I award with those of comparable courses. I hope that Mr. Loewenherz sees fit to take one of my courses.
Economics Professor (who wishes to remain anonymous at this point)
Dan, will you marry me?
Hey Dan, great idea. Now, make it work at UF.
Thank you and love you,
Michelle (the little Loewenherz)
No, Marry Me!!
Yale'00, if you're serious in your comments, you may never make it to graduation. This web site is not funny. On the contrary, it seems to be quite serious and will likely be the biggest and most important college campus innovation since the advent of Cliff notes (which you probably think are funny, too). Wait til' you see Dan Loewenherz laughing all the way to the bank. He'll likely think it's pretty fun(ny) at that point.
When will the site be ready? Do you plan to spread it tpo other campuses as Michelle (the Little Loewenherz")implied?
It's ready for use now at Yale, but it's still in beta, so things aren't yet ready for other schools. We'll probably be moving to the rest of the Ivy League within two months, definitely before the beginning of next semester. -Dan
Yee How!! Now I can really be an A student.
a novel idea: people could get a rough sense of grade distribution, but take classes based mainly on genuine intellectual interest rather than an overarching concern over GPA.