No-Zero Grading Policy- Alannah and Caroline

No-Zero Grading p0licy

Introduction

What is the no-zero policy and what is the point?

The "yes" argument

• 0's don't accurately reflect the level of academic mastery.
• Using grades to motivate or punish students is manipulation.
• Using grading for discipline is not the intended purpose of grading.
• Assigning a 0 doesn't actually reflect a "real world" attitude.
• A good no-zero policy works.
• Not unfair to any one student over another.
• There are alternatives to giving "0".

The "no" argument

• Research that supports no-zero policy is weak.
• Interventions are always a part of a teacher's job.
• Attitude and behavior affect performance.
• All alternative options can be implemented while still giving 0's.
• Any alternative that doesn't affect the students' final grade is worthless.
• Avoiding 0's doesn't make grading any more accurate.

International Implications

What does this look like around the world? Does everyone use it? Who does and who doesn't and what are results?

USA

Several cases were reported in the media involving teachers being fired for using zero grades.

France

A 2014 law forbids using zero grades as punishment in France.

Canada

Some school districts have implemented no-zero grading, while other provinces and districts have reject it.

Spain

In 2007 Spain eliminated the use of zero grades at all levels.

Philippines

Universities are beginning to implement the no-fail policy as a response to COVID-19.

Costa rica

We have annecdotal personal experiences in Costa Rica where zero- grading is forbidden.

Our Thoughts: purpose of grading

• Grading should represent the mastery of skills but the responsibility of time management are skills.
• A zero grade does not unfairly skew an average towards failure if the student has been given alternatives.
• Zero grades actually fulfill some of the purposes grading: provide incentives, identify students needing help, and serve as consequences for lack of effort.

Our Thoughts: Academic Accuracy

• Zero grading may bring down an average to not accurately reflect a student's mastery.
• However, zeros are not the first option - alternatives are often given and zeros are a last resort.
• Removing zeros does not make an average more accurate.

Our Thoughts: "Real World" Preparation

• The "real world" skill of time management should be valued.
• Being able to face consequences, accept failure, and recover from mistakes are important "real world" lessons.

Our Thoughts: Alternatives

• Zero grades are not mutually exclusive with alternatives.
• Alternatives (such as accepting late work for fewer points or grading with I for "incomplete") can still be utilized in conjunction with zeros.
• Zero grades can be a last option.

Our Thoughts: Alternatives

• Zero grades are not mutually exclusive with alternatives.
• Alternatives (such as accepting late work for fewer points or grading with I for "incomplete") can still be utilized in conjunction with zeros.
• Zero grades can be a last option.

Our Thoughts: yes or no?

Based on our personal experiences with and without the policy, we both recognize the logic of the "yes" arguments, but side more with the "no" arguments.

• Non-zero grades inflate the average.
• Zero grades in fact do prepare students for real-world experiences where they must accept consequences.
• Teacher discretion is better able to reflect student skills.

Sources:

Sahuquilla, Maria. (2007). Adiós al cero. El País. Retrieved from: https://elpais.com/diario/2007/03/26/educacion/1174860006_850215.html

Educación elimina el cero de las notas finales en la ESO. (2007). El Mundo. Retrieved from: https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/03/15/espana/1173986383.html

Piau, Valérie. (2016). Discipline : quelles punitions peut-on (ou non) vous infliger ? L'Etudiant. Retrieved from: https://www.letudiant.fr/lycee/discipline-quelles-punitions-peut-on-ou-non-vous-infliger.html

L'enseignant est-il libre de noter ? (n.d.) L'Autonome de Solidarité Laique. Retrieved from: http://bertgim.free.fr/evaluation/La%20note%20z%E9ro%20est-elle%20l%E9gale.pdf

Sources

Smusiak, Cara. (2016). Why Schools Need to Scrap the No-Zero Policy. Canadian Family. Retrieved from: https://canadianfamily.ca/parents/why-schools-need-to-scrap-the-no-zero-policy/

Lapin, Tamar. (2018). Teacher says she was fired for ignoring school’s ‘No Zero’ policy. New York Post. Retrieved from: https://nypost.com/2018/09/26/teacher-says-she-was-fired-for-ignoring-schools-no-zero-policy/

Elepano, Zenaida. (2020). Law School Pandemic Guidelines. Republic of the Philippines Legal Education Board. Retrieved from: https://www.usep.edu.ph/sol/wp-content/uploads/sites/64/2020/06/LEBMC-56-Law-School-Pandemic-Guidelines.pdf

THANKS!