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David Thomas, A Principal Lecturer at ASU, Said There Are Varying Theories About Intelligence

Grades are often mistakenly seen as a measure of intelligence, but they actually only reflect performance and how well someone can cram for a test in a substandard education system. Multiple theories of intelligence show it is a stable trait not defined by grades. Defining intelligence solely through exams limits creativity and drives students to focus on grades over learning. Mental strength and intelligence cannot be fully quantified by grades. Grades increase cheating and cause students to avoid challenges in order to get good scores, rather than learning deeply. A better approach is to replace grades with open discussions and focus on purpose-driven learning rather than scholarships or ratings based only on marks.

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74 views3 pages

David Thomas, A Principal Lecturer at ASU, Said There Are Varying Theories About Intelligence

Grades are often mistakenly seen as a measure of intelligence, but they actually only reflect performance and how well someone can cram for a test in a substandard education system. Multiple theories of intelligence show it is a stable trait not defined by grades. Defining intelligence solely through exams limits creativity and drives students to focus on grades over learning. Mental strength and intelligence cannot be fully quantified by grades. Grades increase cheating and cause students to avoid challenges in order to get good scores, rather than learning deeply. A better approach is to replace grades with open discussions and focus on purpose-driven learning rather than scholarships or ratings based only on marks.

Uploaded by

UMAIR AWAN
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Grades as a Measure of Intelligence:

Grades are considered to be a parameter to check one's performance in studies, but


unfortunately they are mistakenly confused with measure of one's capabilities and intelligence.
According to a survey, 88 percent people are of the view that grades don't reflect intelligence.
David Thomas, a principal lecturer at ASU, said there are varying theories about intelligence.
One of them is the entity theory of intelligence, which describes intelligence as being stable
throughout someone's life. According to Kohn, letter grades are not only unnecessary but
harmful Reasons for this dilemma are:

Substandard Education System:

Our grading system coerces students to cram things they are even unable to understand. The
reason for this is that they have to scavenge a place in school and for that they have to strive
hard, irrespective of their interests. Finland is having one of the best education systems in the
world and they don't even have tests at school.

“Many highly intelligent people are poor thinkers. Many people of average intelligence are
skilled thinkers. The power of a car is separate from the way the car is driven.” - Edward de
Bono

Lack of Outcome Based Learning:

People follow the trends not their will. They are crazy for worldly gains and do not follow their
passions. Outcome is thought to be the financial benefits and seeking job for money making, not
grooming and personality development.

Creativity squeezed 'out of schoools' academics warn. (The Telegraph, UK)

We lose too many talented people by defining intelligence through exams that are wholly
inadequate and constricting, says Headmaster Sherbone Preparatory School, Peter Tait.

Mental Strength Can not be Quantified:

Mental strength and intelligence quotient is an instinctive trait of everybody and grading has not
much to do with it. Grades are not at all a parameter to judge one's capabilities.
Grades are not enough to measure success:

Success is not based on schooling it is rather based up hard work and many noatable people
didn't even receive college degrees. They are thought to be educationists without receiving any
degree.

Princess Diana, Benjam Franklin, Bill Gates are notable people among this category.

Grading system creates lack of interest in learning:

Grades are important but they can not tell, who you are and what you can do. A research
validates the rhetoric. A research shows that kids who are graded – and have been encouraged
to try to improve their grades – tend to lose interest in the learning itself, avoid challenging tasks
whenever possible (in order to maximize the chance of getting an A), and think less deeply than
kids who aren’t graded,” Kohn explains. “The problem isn’t with how we grade, nor is it limited
to students who do especially well or poorly in school; it’s inherent to grading. (Alfie Kohn,
NeaToday)

Tendency of cheating is increased:

Grade conscious and marks gaining use of unfair means among students as for them marks
become precious then learning. Stud.ents value success, irrespective of it's source. According to
Institute of Cost and Management Accounts of Pakistan, cheating is the highest and has reached
it's pinnacles in last few years. They rate joblessness to be major reason for it.

Recommendations:

·0 Grading cards should be replaced with open discussions.


·1 Students should not be given scholarships on basis of marks.
·2 Purpose oriented knowledge should be imparted.

·3 No one should be rated on basis of marks.

References:

Quora, The Telegraph, Washington Post.

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