Feature idea (LEVEL 1)
I'd love to see the ability to curve an assignment in ways other than simply adjusting the top score.
Some examples:
- In my AP Course, the test curve follows the curve for the AP test. This curve is generally a 5/8 is an A, a 4/8 is a B, etc.
- If I offer a 4 part quiz, I would like to be able to adjust the score so that 4 correct = 100, 3 correct = 90, 2 correct = 80.
- Curve so that each quartile is a letter grade.
This seems like it would be a natural extension of the Analytics tab when you go into the assignment in the gradebook (Performance).
The shots below are the spread of one of my tests.
Buzz could add the red lines and allow the teacher to adjust them to the curve they want. The red lines in the first image are 90/80/70. The red lines in the second image would be a curve that is based on quartiles. The red lines in the third image might be groupings based on teacher discretion.
Comments (8)
As another AP teacher I love this idea. AP tests tend to be rather difficult and a 60% will earn a 5. It would be very useful to me to be able to give the test and adjust it in Buzz.
Right now I have to give the test in Buzz, export the scores, make the adjustments in Excel, create a new assignment in Buzz, make the previous test 'not for grade', then input the new scores.
Great input, Flew and Kelly. Are these adjustments generally pre-determined or are they identified after a class takes an assessment? For example, would an assessment always be graded a particular way or just once you see the results?
My AP tests is always predetermined to be the 5/8 example.
In the regular classes, the curve is usually determined after the assessment.
I've personally done both depending on the assessment. If I'm using an assessment that has been used regularly in the past (like an old AP test) then I set a predetermined percentages for particular grades. In this case I have expectations about where the students should be for that assessment. For newly created assesssments, I set the percentages after the assessments has been taken.
Could a formula curve be incorporated? I've found success with my AP curving as well using a modified square root formula to calculate my conversions. I square root the raw percentage and multiply by 10.
My problem is when I apply the modification, the students do not see their raw score an AP 5,4,3,2,1 correlation, they only see the "higher score". When I apply a "traditional Buzz" curve, they do see the before and after, which has value in letting know students know their raw performance.
Joseph, currently not. I have made note of your additional information. Thank you.
Kim McRae emailed today asking for this feature as well. Here is what she ended up doing in case this is helpful to you:
I just adjusted them manually. The problem with curving is that it is not a consistent curve. Those already at the top only needed a point or two whereas those at the bottom needed 4 or 5 points to have the equivalent grade on the AP grading scale. I did create a new grading scale that I called AP, so if they just gave us the capability of choosing a different grade scale on a specific assignment that seems like it would work. I know right now we can only change the grading scale for an entire course. There wouldn’t be a lot of times I would change it but when I give AP practice exams it would be good to be able to have it score according to that grading scale and not the typical one.
Hey Jeremy, it appears that Kim was considering two different things that have very different outcomes.
I am not sure what Kim wants to accomplish and which one she should use. However, if she does want to just change the letter grade, then there are a couple of options: