Schools of Education and Preparation of College Teachers |
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Authors: | Wilson F Wetzler |
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Institution: | Queens College , USA |
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Abstract: | The author explores an assumption evident in the literature that “most” college instructors grade participation in undergraduate courses. Instructors (N = 521) at a large, northeastern university were surveyed regarding their attitudes and practices in grading participation in undergraduate courses. A survey instrument was developed for the purpose of this study and subjected to principal components analysis. This instrument yielded seven subscales of acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha ≥ .70), three of which are the focus of this article. Results suggest that the majority of instructors across disciplines do incorporate a “participation” factor into students’ final course grades. Course level is not a significant correlate, but some differences may be observed by discipline. Underlying instructor beliefs are examined, and implications and future directions for research are discussed. |
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Keywords: | English instruction composition courses effective communication |
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