Exit Slip # 6: Effects of Marking & Ranking

Image source: https://www.ewa.org/sites/main/files/imagecache/medium/main-images/bigstock-ranking-concept-87358253.jpg

My hope is that my students become autonomous, critical thinkers, that are able to function in society as well as work to make it a better place. I think traditional marking systems in which the teacher is viewed as the holder of knowledge that students are comparing their own answers to doesn't make for a classroom environment that generates those types of students and thinkers. Additionally, the highly competitive and often merciless nature of our percentage-based grading system shifts the focus more from learning and self-development to a battle of survival that comes with its share of anxiety and unfairness. Overall, I understand ranking systems are likely favoured for efficiency and "practicality" reasons, but I also believe they strip away our opportunity to move forward as a society if we are working against each other and forced to look out for ourselves over collective humanity. When students are so focused on scoring well in courses and less focused on their individual journey as learners, they might feel less inclined to voice and explore their own thinking and instead conform to what they believe the teacher expects. I hope that I can move away from that objective in my classroom and create a space for students to make mistakes and learn from them without feeling that their future is threatened in the process.