Wikimecum:Grading
Expectations
Project activities are very different than courses, since the "assignments" are primarily provided by the student team, rather than by the advisors. A key part of your project experience will involve learning to ask the right questions and set appropriate goals, as well as answering those questions and achieving those goals. You are in Venice to do your IQP; it will be a fulltime activity for you. We expect each student to put in 50 to 60 hours per week on average toward the project. This is about the amount that most fulltime professionals work these days, and it may very well be less than the amount the people who work to put you through school are working.
On weekdays, you are expected to work a full day on your project. This may take place at your agency, or perhaps doing field work and gathering data. You may also spend several hours working on your laptops at home in the evenings. There may be times when deadlines or availability of resources require you to work late or on weekends; this is part of being a professional. You will not be punching a clock, but rather will be expected to maintain an aggressive pace, and do what is necessary to make your project a success. A lot of people are depending on you: your partners, your agency and liaison, your advisors, and the people who pay your tuition. Please don't let any of us down.
You are also expected to put in a full week. As you will see from the calendar, you have a lot to accomplish, and a full slate of deadlines and activities. If you work aggressively and effectively enough, you should have most weekends free to explore and travel. Chances are that the last couple of weekends will be taken up by project work, though, so plan accordingly.
Expectations (Evaluative Criteria)
Below is a list of the type of evaluative criteria that pertain to project activities. This list is not complete, but it provides a good guide as to what we will be considering when it comes time to assign grades.
Project students are expected to:
- Set appropriately defined and achievable goals for the project, and adjust them as necessary based on unexpected developments on-site.
- Achieve the goals.
- Display understanding of the background research and problem context, and effectively integrate this information into the project report.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the relevant literature and other background sources; evaluate this material critically and apply it appropriately to the project work.
- Choose appropriate methodologies for achieving the project goals, and draw on the literature to implement them correctly.
- Use appropriate methods of analysis to draw justifiable and defensible conclusions and results that lead to achievement of the project goals.
- Work smoothly with each other, with advisors, and with sponsors, and address any interpersonal difficulties when they arise.
- Submit well-written and carefully team-edited draft materials. We expect that these materials will represent your best efforts every step of the way.
- Provide clear, concise, and well-rehearsed oral presentations which convey clear understanding by all students of the “big picture” and project details.
- Run meetings with advisors and sponsors in an effective way, providing an agenda, and keeping detailed minutes.
- Fulfill all obligations to each other, to advisors, and to sponsors, including timely submission of draft materials and prompt attendance at all meetings.
- Take initiative; students should make the project their own, and pursue its completion independently. (Advisors advise and consult; they should not have to dictate.)
- Deal with ambiguity, uncertainty, and changes in the project.
- Be flexible, and take adversity in stride.
- Grow professionally and personally as a result of the project experience.
- Have some fun doing their project!
Grades
Projects are not very well-suited to letter grades. Nonetheless, it is part of our responsibilities to give you each a grade on your IQP at the end of our time in Venice, and you will get a grade at the end; there will be no extensions or continuations. All IQPs are over at the end of the term. Your PQP grade will have no effect – positive or negative – on your final grade. During this term, we will give you regular, specific feedback as often as we can. At the beginning of the term, we will even try to relate it to absolute grades, to make sure you understand our assessment of your progress. Upon completion of the project, you will receive an individual overall project grade. Although we would prefer to assign the same grade to all members, we will reserve the right to give different grades if needed. Each team member should be assuming the primary responsibility for certain aspects of the project; at the same time, however, each team member should be familiar with all aspects of the project.
It is important to note that project grades reflect not only the final products of the project (e.g. results, reports, presentations, etc.), but also the process by which they are attained, including steadiness of effort, teamwork, quality and timeliness of drafts, and self-direction. No amount of last-minute scrambling can turn a mediocre project effort into an A. As a reminder, the possible project grades and their interpretations are as follows:
- A: a grade denoting consistently excellent effort and outcomes with respect to the above criteria (under “Expectations”), exceeding the expectations of the advisors, and attaining and even going beyond the stated project goals.
- B: a grade denoting consistently good effort and outcomes with respect to the above criteria, fully meeting the expectations of the advisors, and attaining the stated project goals.
- C: a grade denoting acceptable effort and outcomes with respect to the above criteria, meeting most of the expectations of the advisors, and partially attaining the stated project goals.
- NAC: a grade denoting effort and outcomes which are unacceptable with respect to the above criteria. Note that this grade is entered into the student's transcript (unlike an NR).
Based on the PQP, we believe that each team has the potential to complete an excellent project, and that each student participating in this program has the potential to earn an A grade. Based on personal experience, however, we know that not all of you will necessarily live up to your potentials during this project. It is up to you. Remember: doing well on a project has a lot more to do with consistent effort and a consistently good attitude than it does with raw academic ability. On the other hand, hard work alone does not guarantee an A grade. A project is launched into the "A category" when the students make the project extraordinary by going beyond the suggestions, ideas, and expectations of their advisors and sponsor.
Meetings
The tentative weekly meeting schedule is in this Vademecum. General meetings (with ALL students) will be scheduled when necessary, otherwise the meetings will be either by project group or by apartment. At meetings with outside people, we REQUIRE that you come dressed appropriately, and fully prepared to LEAD the meeting. There should always be a RECORDER at each meeting.
Miscellaneous
See Prof. Carrera for any questions which are not addressed in this wiki entry.