UCB grading system
- Thread starter jomama
- Start date
As far as I'm aware, I thought the notes that were passed on weren't grades, but more along the lines of "this student needs to work on initiating" and things like that. Just helpful notes that A) Your teacher has told you in class and B) Are helpful to your next teacher, so they know what you've been working on.
I have no ideal how true this is, I'd talk to a teacher about it if you're really that concerned.
I have no ideal how true this is, I'd talk to a teacher about it if you're really that concerned.
A grade from UCB or any theater, does not indicate my level of improvisational skill. Grades are subjective from teacher to teacher. Unless they really know you as an improvisor, there really isn't, in my opinion, any proper scale to determine you're improv ability. However, you can determine a grade by class participation, tardiness, etc. etc. As someone mentioned before - it's an art form. So of course everyone will have an opinion either way. Religion, art, politics - everyone has an opinion about it. Grades submitted for an art form are "subjective grades" or "opinion based grades". It's not like taking a math test with a formulaic system of answers - it's art. There are many different answers.
I didn't voluntarily spend $325 a class because I want to get on a Harold team or because I want to get a "grade". I took these classes because a) I made some wonderful connections b) I have a really interesting new set of skills and c) it's FUN.
oh and an added d) classes are tax-deductible. But everyone has different reasons for these classes.
And for my staple comment I always make after a discussion like this, "Who cares? People are dying."
I didn't voluntarily spend $325 a class because I want to get on a Harold team or because I want to get a "grade". I took these classes because a) I made some wonderful connections b) I have a really interesting new set of skills and c) it's FUN.
oh and an added d) classes are tax-deductible. But everyone has different reasons for these classes.
And for my staple comment I always make after a discussion like this, "Who cares? People are dying."
I don't think the question is whether or not we want to be graded or have some sort of formal evaluation done on us, but whether there is some sort of formal evalution kept on record. And if there is some sort of formal record keeping of our teacher evalutions, what is it's purpose and can students access those records or not?
Whether a student wants to access those grades or not is yet other, pre-emptive question since we don't know whether UCB students actually receive "grades" or "reviews" or "notes on performance" or some sort of formal evaluation system.
By the way, I have never heard of any school or training program that keeps notes on students that they do not allow students to access. Every formal accredited or respected place of learning keeps permanent and temporary records on students, and those records are always made available to the students themselves or the parents of the students. To do otherwise would be strange.
Whether a student wants to access those grades or not is yet other, pre-emptive question since we don't know whether UCB students actually receive "grades" or "reviews" or "notes on performance" or some sort of formal evaluation system.
By the way, I have never heard of any school or training program that keeps notes on students that they do not allow students to access. Every formal accredited or respected place of learning keeps permanent and temporary records on students, and those records are always made available to the students themselves or the parents of the students. To do otherwise would be strange.
Are notes enough?
Are you fucking serious?
Are paragraphs of explanation of what we do well and what we do poorly enough, compared to boiling it all down to a simple score?
Right now, if you want to know why you didn't get into such-and-such class, the answer is available to you in the form of a personal explanation. If you don't have that explanation, it's because you haven't asked for it.
Do some reading on grading in education in general --- the systems we are used to in school are mostly a necessary evil. If you really care about learning something, grades are useless.
Are you fucking serious?
Are paragraphs of explanation of what we do well and what we do poorly enough, compared to boiling it all down to a simple score?
Right now, if you want to know why you didn't get into such-and-such class, the answer is available to you in the form of a personal explanation. If you don't have that explanation, it's because you haven't asked for it.
Do some reading on grading in education in general --- the systems we are used to in school are mostly a necessary evil. If you really care about learning something, grades are useless.
jeez, why are you so hostile? i think it's a valid question. i'm sure that there are many of us out there that are also curious, and if you say you aren't at all curious if said notes/grades are out there floating around then that's crazy ridiculous. any additional feedback we can gain as improvisers can be helpful.
Grades may be a "useless" but some sort of system to evaluate the progress of a student is not useless at all. It's a needed part of a well-thought out model of learning. As well as any kind of system to share that info with other educators within the same educational program. Otherwise, there would be no way to guide a student into the direction she or he needs to go.
Honestly, I would be super impressed if UCB has a some sort of formal system to keep track of the progress and learning challenges of all their students. That would be amazing! And impressive. The level of thought, consideration and collaboration that would have to go into that kind of effort would make me love UCB even more. Grades (or whatever) are by default one way to make something that seems abstract, subjective or bias into something more tangable and objective. And, if teachers have the ability to share notes or insights about their students with each other in an organized and thoughtful manner, all the better. If UCB puts that much time into my improv training - to be honest - I would feel that I was getting a better training that I ever expected or could ask for. But, I would love to see any formal evaluations done on me because for me it works. I really respond to those kinds of things. Not every one does - it would be silly to think that everyone learns in the same manner. We don't. I happend to understand and respond to a more formal, delineated way of evaluating and learning. I would never expect this from UCB, but if it's being done - fucking amazing! I would love to see it, thought, because I know it would help.
holy crap! you've totally misread my post.
if we DO get graded by a letter i think we should know. if we don't we don't.
Yes I'm Fucking serious. I think if people are paying for something and being misled about what they're "getting" ... then people should know. I was misled about what the grading system is (as in, it's not a letter grade, but goes in deeper to a type of grading if you're over-excelling or borderline getting booted).
As far as getting into certain class, I have NOT had that problem, but I know others that have. I was wondering if this grading thing was effecting that.
I get notes. I like them. I'd like more. I sprinkle them on my cereal.
I am aware that grading is useless. I was just posing a question.
Please don't pounce when it's not necessary. I'm not here to fight, I just wanted clarification.
if we DO get graded by a letter i think we should know. if we don't we don't.
Yes I'm Fucking serious. I think if people are paying for something and being misled about what they're "getting" ... then people should know. I was misled about what the grading system is (as in, it's not a letter grade, but goes in deeper to a type of grading if you're over-excelling or borderline getting booted).
As far as getting into certain class, I have NOT had that problem, but I know others that have. I was wondering if this grading thing was effecting that.
I get notes. I like them. I'd like more. I sprinkle them on my cereal.
I am aware that grading is useless. I was just posing a question.
Please don't pounce when it's not necessary. I'm not here to fight, I just wanted clarification.
I'm hostile because this isn't about "notes/grades". It's about notes versus grades.
Notes are extremely valuable feedback. Notes are easily available. I have never heard of an instructor who refused to give notes. I have been surprised by the long emails I have received from some instructors.
Grades are a distraction. Grades do not help people learn. I'm not curious if one of my instructors wrote "A" or "C" next to my name on a form somewhere because that additional piece of information tells me nothing.
I'm hostile because some people heard a rumor about a secret grading system and are suddenly acting like they don't have enough information available to evaluate themselves as improvisors and maybe if they knew their secret score they would be able to figure out how to break the code and get onto a Harold Team.
I don't know what record keeping system they use at any of the schools, but I'm pretty sure when I ask what I can do to become a better performer, nobody is keeping secrets from me.
Notes are extremely valuable feedback. Notes are easily available. I have never heard of an instructor who refused to give notes. I have been surprised by the long emails I have received from some instructors.
Grades are a distraction. Grades do not help people learn. I'm not curious if one of my instructors wrote "A" or "C" next to my name on a form somewhere because that additional piece of information tells me nothing.
I'm hostile because some people heard a rumor about a secret grading system and are suddenly acting like they don't have enough information available to evaluate themselves as improvisors and maybe if they knew their secret score they would be able to figure out how to break the code and get onto a Harold Team.
I don't know what record keeping system they use at any of the schools, but I'm pretty sure when I ask what I can do to become a better performer, nobody is keeping secrets from me.
I thought it was about if there was a letter grade system?
I didn't hear a RUMOR - I was told I'm being graded. So I'm trying to figure out what that means. Which is why I'm asking the question.
I'm not trying to break some fucking code and get on a Harold Team. I don't make the decisions on who is or is not on a Harold Team. That is someone else's decision and that's how it is in most theaters. I just try to do good work FROM THE NOTES I GOT.
If you have a personal problem with me....PM or email me.
UCB IS NOT EVIL
I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION
jesus-fucking-christ!