Experimental Validity & Class Effort

Experimental Validity & Resulting Conversation

In class today, we discussed the concept of validity as it pertains to experimentation.  Due to the fact that many students could not accurately answer a question pertaining to validity on their last VDA (#6), I thought I would spend a class period discussing it.

As part of our conversation, we discussed social phenomena and their effect on an experiment's results. I mentioned reading an article about how humans relate to machines.  In addition, we discussed a classical psychological experiment that Milgram performed in 1961.  Both experiments are heavily influenced by the times in which they were performed.

Effort

In an effort to deliver students and parents an accurate picture of their students' performance, I have decided to give each student two grades for science.  The first grade will be a reflection of your students' performance in the content area.  Specifically, it will reflect the grades they earn on the homework.

The second grade they will earn in science will be contingent upon their effort in class.  This grade will be determined by calculating a pass (100)/fail (0) for each assignment.  If they turn the work in, on time AND complete, then it will receive a 100%.  If not, it will earn a 0%.  To be clear, if they turn in an assignment two days late, they will receive appropriate credit for the assignment, but their science effort grade will suffer the 0%.

Example:

Student A turns in the following assignments:

Assignment 1
earned: 100% (missed 0 questions)
turned in: on time (100% effort)

Assignment 2
earned: 80% (missed 2 of 10 questions)
turned in: late (0% effort)

Assignment 3
earned: 90% (missed 1 of 10 questions)
turned in: on time (100% effort)

Assignment 4
earned: 100% (missed 0 questions)
turned in: late (0% effort)

Assignment 5
earned: 70% (missed 3 of 10 questions)
turned in: late (0% effort)

Their grades would be as follows:
earned: 88%, B+
effort: 40%, F

What that means for you, parents and students, is that you know the student would have likely earned a higher grade if they put more effort into the class.  Whereas, if a student earns an 88% and has an effort of 100%, you can be confident that your child worked to the best of his/her ability.

Please note: my class grade is weighted by category whereas the effort grade will not be weighted.

Extra Credit Reminders
1)Page 177 Challenge: Create a power point answering all of the questions.  The more effort you put into the presentation, the more points you will earn.  (Due: Monday, February 4th)

2) Wrinkly finger experiment:  Put one hand in salt water, the other in fresh water.  Be sure that temperature and time of exposure is constant.  Take photographs of your finger tips and upload them to your blog.  (Due: Friday, February 1st)