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What Are the Two Types of Grading Systems?

The evaluation methods and the tools employed as well as educators and institutions also transform as they go through various changes. The automated grading system is one of the most discussed innovations in this field.

However, prior to delving into the specifics, one must comprehend the overall setting of grading systems. Essentially, grading systems can be broadly classified into two types: manual and automated.

Grading System in Education: What is it? 

The grading system in education means evaluation of students’ academic performance. The approach provides teachers with a consistent framework for evaluating what knowledge, skills, and capabilities students gain after certain periods.

It often serves multiple purposes: giving feedback to students, guiding teachers’ instructional approaches, placing students in the academic tracks, and a framework for promoting recognition of excellent learning or weaknesses.

Common Types of Grading Systems in Education

1. Letter Grades: One of the most common systems used worldwide, letter grades typically range from A to F, with each letter representing a specific range of percentages or performance levels. 'A' typically represents excellent performance, while 'F' often indicates a failing mark. Variations can include +/- distinctions, such as A-, B+, and so forth.
2. Percentage System: Used in many countries, the percentage grading system assigns a specific percentage score out of 100% for student performance. It offers a more nuanced understanding of a student's performance than letter grades, showing precisely how much of the course material the student has mastered.
3. Grade Point Average (GPA): This the common U.S grading system. GPA is a standardized way of calculating an average performance over a course or an academic term.
4. Typically, it's a scale of 0 to 4.0, though some institutions might have variations such as a 5.0 scale. Each course grade is assigned a value (e.g., A=4, B=3), and the average is calculated based on the number of courses and their respective credit hours.
5. Standards-Based Grading: This approach evaluates students based on their proficiency in defined skills or standards rather than an overall percentage or grade. For instance, in a math class, instead of receiving an 85% for the term, a student might receive feedback like "Proficient in Algebra" but "Needs Improvement in Geometry."
6. Narrative Evaluations: Some institutions, particularly at the primary level or in alternative education systems, prefer to use narrative evaluations over traditional grades. Teachers provide detailed written feedback on a student's performance, strengths, and areas that need improvement. This method offers a holistic view of a student's abilities and growth but can be time-consuming for educators.
7. Pass/Fail: In this system, detailed evaluations or percentages are foregone in favor of a binary assessment. If a student meets the minimum criteria for a course or test, they "pass." If they don't, they "fail." This method can reduce stress related to high-stakes grading, but it may not provide as detailed feedback on a student's performance.

Manual Grading System: The Traditional Touch

Since the inception of formal education, the manual grading system has been the backbone of assessment. This system relies heavily on human judgment, experience, and discretion.

Pros of Manual Grading System

• Personal Touch: Teachers can provide personalized feedback, understanding the unique strengths and areas of improvement for each student.
• Holistic Evaluation: Beyond just answers, educators can assess the student's approach, creativity, and thought process.

Cons of Manual Grading System

• Time-Consuming: Evaluating each paper or assignment can be lengthy, especially for larger classes.
• Subjectivity: Grading may vary based on the teacher's perception, potentially leading to inconsistencies.

Image alt text: automated grading system. A report card showing how a student is graded in extra-curricular activities.

Author credit: By Matt Baran from mke, usa fuck yeah - Scott Walker Report Card, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60358565

Automated Grading System: The Future of Assessment

The automated grading system is a relatively newer method of evaluation, leveraging technology to assess student submissions.

Pros of Automated Grading System

• Efficiency: Processes large volumes of submissions quickly.
• Consistency: Eliminates human biases, ensuring a uniform grading standard.
• Feedback Loop: Some advanced automated grading systems offer instant feedback, helping students understand their mistakes in real-time.

Cons of Automated Grading System

• Lack of Personal Touch: Unlike human graders, it can't appreciate nuances or unique approaches to a problem.
• Technical Glitches: Like any other tech solution, there's a possibility of errors or malfunctions.

Now, with a general understanding of the two systems, let's delve deeper into the realm of the automated grading system.

Rise of the automated grading system

The advent of the digital revolution in the education sector has sparked a great demand for an efficient, unbiased, fast grading solution. Enter the automated grading system. This system involves application of algorithms and sets of predetermined criteria for the evaluation of student work. Automated grading has significantly expanded from simple multiple-choice items to some essay-type responses as well.

With regard to massive open online courses (MOOCs), the automated grading system is especially helpful because of the massive number of students. Additionally, this system is a revolution for standardized tests which need consistency and speed.

Moreover, it is the application of AI in education and machine leaning that really makes the difference for this grading system.

Today, advanced systems can give a great deal of information on an error which a student’s makes, can detect patterns in mistakes that students make, and can even give specific suggestions for improvement.

The Ideal Blend: Manual and Automated

Though an automated grading system has undisputable advantages, it has to be complemented with human interaction for subjects where evaluations are based on discretion. A blend model may therefore be the future of grading.

Automated systems for objective scoring and manual grading for subjective or complex assignments can be utilized in this model. Such a blend could offer the best of both worlds: efficiency and personalization.

Conclusion

Technology is transforming the world of education, creating a new direction for the education of the future. Such integration is evidenced by the efficiency and consistency achieved by the automated grading system in education.

Although in the years to come the merits of a personal touch of the manual grading system cannot be doubted. Hence, as educators and technologists, we face the challenge of integrating the two into a whole, effective, and fair grading system for all students.

I hope that by the end of this article, the two main grading systems have been well explained. The education scene is undoubtedly changing with the emergence of the automated marking system. This is a very exhilarating time, and we’re all here to witness and mold it.