1. Guiding Principles of Grading in this class Your grade should be determined by how well you understand physics, and nothing else. Homework is practice, it should not affect your grade. It doesnt matter when you learn it, so long as you learn it. Assessments must guide you on how to improve. Assessments need to provide incentive for you to do the work required to improve.Wednesday, August 24, 2011

2. Student A Understanding of Physics Student B End of Semester TimeWednesday, August 24, 2011

3. Ideas are categorized in 2 ways in this class A (Core) These skills are fundamental to this physics class and future study of science. In order to pass (70), you must achieve proficiency in all of them. B (Intermediate) These concepts represent more advanced skills that indicate a deeper understanding of physics. In order to achieve a grade of A (90), you must achieve proficiency in all of them.Wednesday, August 24, 2011

4. Whats an assessment?An assessment is a written assignment designed to measureyour understanding of physics concepts.You will have an assessment every friday. They will range in length from 10 minutes to a full class period. This weeks assessment will be 10 minutes.You will not get a number grade on the assessment (eg 85, 90). Instead you will get a list of concepts and a rating of your understanding of the concepts that were assessed.Any concept we have covered previously is fair game for assessment. Lots of chances to demonstrate improved understandingWednesday, August 24, 2011

5. How I classify your understanding 2 (Mastery/Proficiency) You have proven to me you understand this idea you have solved the problem correctly with no mathematical errors. you have units on every number, and written numbers to an appropriate precision. it is clear from your work that you have an understanding of this idea. 1 (Developing) You havent shown full understanding yet, but there are elements here that are on the right track You may have a mathematical error or have forgotten units somewhere. I think you need to do a little bit more to show youve mastered this idea 0 (Beginning) Your work does not show understanding of the concept Most recent assessment score = your current understanding 2s are required to show proficencyWednesday, August 24, 2011

6. Student-initiated assessments As you work in this course, you will undoubtedly find your uderstanding improve. When this happens, you can apply to assess your understanding again, outside of class. Students must apply to assess by Tuesday at 5pm. Assessments are given on Wednesdays during backwork. You can apply to assess up to 5 concepts in one sitting. Your scores on this assessment replace older scores. If you dont show understanding of a concept, your score can go down, but you can always try again. In order to assess you must correct your old problem and do extra practice.Wednesday, August 24, 2011

7. Ok, how do I get above a 90?CapstonesThe deepest levels of physics understanding, those that correspond to grades of A,cannot be assessed with a single question or one step problem. In order to show thismastery you will be asked to complete small projects, called capstones. Capstonesmust do the following: Show synthesis of multiple concepts and models inunfamiliar situations. A capstone requires you to use more than one idea to solve aproblem, and it isnt just a rehashing of work youve already done.Show initiative.Are open ended.Are public.Involve significant revision. Each capstone can count for up to 3 points above 90. If objectives based grade is