The Columbus School has implemented a new grading policy called IE this will help students be motivated and  turn in their work. The IE means insufficient evidence, this gives students  the chance to  do the work or make a better effort on the one they turned in.

“Is a way to evaluate students based of the essential learning that needs to happen. Each course we identify which standards are important for students to master and qualify the learning up against those standards individually instead of having one grade for the whole course they may have five grades for the course.” Trisha Ann Nikrandt curriculum director  said.

Students are having more opportunities to do a better job at school. This give students the chances to improve their responsibilities at school and do their homework and what they are suppose to do, this helps students want to improve the grade since zeros does not exist anymore on the grading system of the school, the IE that are insufficient evidence does not mean that the student does not no the work or that he/she can’t understand the topic; this means that they do know the work but they have to show more evidence or have to turn in the work.

“A way to remind the students that their are missing an assignment, it’s called insufficient evidence and they respond to the fact that many students had a lot of zeros, that’s not an academic problem in but a problem in behavior/work ethic. A student not doing doing his work shouldn’t affect their grade, but there should be reminders that they have to turn in their assignments. “ Pablo Monsalve 12th grade student (stuco) said.

Students say that this “IE” are truly helpful to them because they can do a much better job on a work that they didn’t do the best effort or one that they haven’t turn in. For students at the Columbus School the insufficient evidence helps a lot for extra curriculums just like sports and COSMUN, if students that do this things has a zero they can participate at the events they are invited to. This helps the students want to do a better work, so that they can participate and be motivated at school.

“Maybe if you are not allowed to do extracurricular activities (COSMUN, binationals, etc.) you have to go back and fix the grade, you’re going to have to talk to the teacher, but if the teacher takes it too far and as I said, you are not allowed to go to outside of school activities, then you are going to be angry and that doesn’t help motivation. “ Monsalve said.

Students also  complains that some teachers take advantages of the IE’s. The IE’s has pro’s and cons, just like any other way to do grading standards.  Most of students prefers this way of grading in the system because students prefer to get more chances to work than a zero that affects the grade in a huge way.

“I think there are pro’s and cons, I think most people would want to keep it because a zero was very heavy on the grade and people were failing classes because of zeros, now they are not going to fail a class because of an IE. Teachers should try to not abuse the power of the IE because they put busy work, busy work and if the student doesn’t turn it in then an IE can mess up the entire grade even if it is temporary. “ Monsalve said.

What does standards base grading actually mean? it’s a way to see how students react to learning skills this is how teachers see what a student needs help in and this way teachers know on what a student is struggling and can help them to make a better job in the class.

“Is a way to evaluate students based of the essential learning that needs to happen. Each course we identify which standards are important for students to master and qualify the learning up against those standards individually instead of having one grade for the whole course they may have five grades for the course.” Nikrandt  said.