| Peer-Reviewed

Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model

Received: 7 December 2021     Accepted: 27 December 2021     Published: 8 January 2022
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The research aimed to identify the assessment practices used in the grading process and meanings included in them and the values that are taken into account in estimating grades at An-Najah National University, and to compare them between the colleges of the university. The sample consisted of (301) faculty members. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used a tool that consisted of nine evaluation positions. The results of the research indicated that the assessment practices differed in different faculties, and the score is closely related to the effort exerted by the student, and sometimes it is related to the values of compassion and mercy. and the course requirements must be fulfilled because it is an integral part of it. sometimes faculty members in some faculties appeal to the values of compassion and mercy in case the student’s situation requires that, this is after examining the student's effort, economic status, or social circumstances. The research recommends that the process of converting raw score into letter grade should be clear for all faculty members, and they should be trained on it. The study also recommends re-conducting the survey in other universities, and linking the assessment practices, their meanings, and values with other factors such as the years of experience which the faculty member spent in education and the academic rank.

Published in Education Journal (Volume 11, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11
Page(s) 1-11
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Meanings and Values, Messick's Theory of Validity, Instructors Grading Practices, Letter Grading System

References
[1] Aanati, J. (2013). Difficulties Facing Faculty Members and Students within Letter Grades System in Force at Jordan University (in Arabic). Arab Studies in Education and Psychology Journal, 1 (39): 47-88.
[2] Abu-awwad, F & Al-Anati, J. (2018). Characteristics of Grading Systems in the Top Ten Universities According to International Universities Ranking (in Arabic). Studies of educational sciences, 44: 41-54.
[3] An-Najah National University. (2018). Grading Marks (in Arabic). Palestine.
[4] An-Najah National University. (2019). Introductory Leaflet for An- Najah University (in Arabic). Palestine.
[5] Bani Yasin, O. (1996). Meanings and Value Judgments in Teachers Grading Practices (in Arabic). (Master Thesis). Education Faculty, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan.
[6] Baron, P. A. B. (2000). Consequential Validity for High School Grades: What Is the Meaning of Grades for Senders and Receivers?.‏ school of education, Rugters University: USA. Available on ERIC Retrieved November 30, 2018, from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED445051
[7] Brookhart, S. M. (1993). Teachers' grading practices: Meaning and values. Journal of Educational Measurement, 30 (2), 123-142.‏ Retrieved October 25, 2018, from https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-3984.1993.tb01070.x
[8] Calsamiglia, C., & Loviglio, A. (2016). Grading On A Curve: When Having Good Peers Is Not Good (No. wp2017_1704).‏ Retrieved November 9, 2018, from: https://bse.eu/research/working-papers/grading-curve-when-having-good-peers-not-good
[9] Gomez, M. D. C. (2017). Teachers' Assessment and Grading Practices in Upper Secondary Science Classrooms in Sweden: the teachers ‘and students ‘Perspectives. Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology, Lund University.‏
[10] Gonnella, J. S., Erdmann, J. B., & Hojat, M. (2004). An empirical study of the predictive validity of number grades in medical school using 3 decades of longitudinal data: implications for a grading system. Medical education, 38 (4), 425-434.‏
[11] Kamal, S. (2000). Ensuring Good Quality in Open and Distance Learning (in Arabic). Journal of Al-Quds Open University for Humanities and Social Research, 1: 25-50.
[12] McMillan, J. (2008). Assessment essentials for standards-based education. (2nd ed.). California: Corwin Press.
[13] Messick, S. (1989). Validity. In R. L. Linn (Ed.), Educational measurement. (3rd ed., pp. 13-103). New York: Macmillan.
[14] Moslm, F & Aljodah, M. (2016). Psychometric Study of Some Courses at the Deanship of the Preparatory Year of the University of Dammam: Case Study (in Arabic). International Interdisciplinary Journal of Education, 5 (11): 45-59.
[15] Neigel, S. (2017). Assessing the Meaning and Value of Traditional Grading Systems: Teacher Practices and Perspectives. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southern California).‏ Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (10683026).
[16] Randall, J., & Engelhard, G. (2010). Examining the grading practices of teachers. Teaching and Teacher Education, 26 (7), 1372-1380.‏
[17] Riley, T., & Ungerleider, C. (2019). Imputed Meaning: An Exploration of How Teachers Interpret Grades. Action in Teacher Education, 3 (41), 212-228.‏
[18] Sawalmeh, Y. (2000). Meaning and Values in College Grades: A case Study of Yarmouk University (in Arabic). Journal of the Educational Research Center, 9 (17): 45-77.
[19] Shaayib, A. (2007). Reliability Estimation of A sample of Course Grades in AL al-Bayt University (in Arabic). Damascus University Journal for Educational Sciences, 23 (2): 255-271.
[20] Sun, Y., & Cheng, L. (2014). Teachers’ grading practices: meaning and values assigned. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 21 (3), 326-343.
[21] Thoendel, S. (2015). Validity of Grading Practices in Elementary Education Retrieved November 2, 2018, from: https://www.unomaha.edu/college-of-education/moec/_files/docs/publications/EDL_9550_Final_Research_Brief_Thoendel_Spring_2015.pdf
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ejteyad Abdul Razzaq Abu Thabet. (2022). Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model. Education Journal, 11(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Ejteyad Abdul Razzaq Abu Thabet. Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model. Educ. J. 2022, 11(1), 1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Ejteyad Abdul Razzaq Abu Thabet. Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model. Educ J. 2022;11(1):1-11. doi: 10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11,
      author = {Ejteyad Abdul Razzaq Abu Thabet},
      title = {Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model},
      journal = {Education Journal},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-11},
      doi = {10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.edu.20221101.11},
      abstract = {The research aimed to identify the assessment practices used in the grading process and meanings included in them and the values that are taken into account in estimating grades at An-Najah National University, and to compare them between the colleges of the university. The sample consisted of (301) faculty members. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used a tool that consisted of nine evaluation positions. The results of the research indicated that the assessment practices differed in different faculties, and the score is closely related to the effort exerted by the student, and sometimes it is related to the values of compassion and mercy. and the course requirements must be fulfilled because it is an integral part of it. sometimes faculty members in some faculties appeal to the values of compassion and mercy in case the student’s situation requires that, this is after examining the student's effort, economic status, or social circumstances. The research recommends that the process of converting raw score into letter grade should be clear for all faculty members, and they should be trained on it. The study also recommends re-conducting the survey in other universities, and linking the assessment practices, their meanings, and values with other factors such as the years of experience which the faculty member spent in education and the academic rank.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Meanings, Values, and Grading Practices in Estimating University Grades: An-Najah National University in Palestine as a Model
    AU  - Ejteyad Abdul Razzaq Abu Thabet
    Y1  - 2022/01/08
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11
    T2  - Education Journal
    JF  - Education Journal
    JO  - Education Journal
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 11
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2619
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.edu.20221101.11
    AB  - The research aimed to identify the assessment practices used in the grading process and meanings included in them and the values that are taken into account in estimating grades at An-Najah National University, and to compare them between the colleges of the university. The sample consisted of (301) faculty members. To achieve the objectives of the study, the researcher used a tool that consisted of nine evaluation positions. The results of the research indicated that the assessment practices differed in different faculties, and the score is closely related to the effort exerted by the student, and sometimes it is related to the values of compassion and mercy. and the course requirements must be fulfilled because it is an integral part of it. sometimes faculty members in some faculties appeal to the values of compassion and mercy in case the student’s situation requires that, this is after examining the student's effort, economic status, or social circumstances. The research recommends that the process of converting raw score into letter grade should be clear for all faculty members, and they should be trained on it. The study also recommends re-conducting the survey in other universities, and linking the assessment practices, their meanings, and values with other factors such as the years of experience which the faculty member spent in education and the academic rank.
    VL  - 11
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Faculty of Graduate Study/Applied Statistic and Data Science, Birzeit University, Rammallah, Palestine

  • Sections