Grades will be based on completion of the pre-course & post-course surveys (5%), 12 online quizzes, totaling 60 points, a Web-page development project (10%), and an online final exam (25%), for a total of 100 points.
The twelve quizzes are scored on a 100 point scale, weighted equally5 points each.
All quizzes are open notes, open Web. The only restriction is that students may not receive aid on the quizzes directly from other people. The Virginia Tech University Honor Code applies. See also the class policy on late work.
The Web-page development project will be the synthesis of the knowledge that you will have accumulated in this class. It will require you to code a (set of) multi-media Web page(s), complete with graphics, and links to useful information on the Internet. If you do not already have an account on which you can place your web pages, contact the Virginia Tech Computing Center to get your File Box services. As a student with a valid PID account with the university, you are entitled to space on the university web server.
The final grades are based on the total points a student accumulates throughout the term. They are assigned in view of the average and distribution of the total points across the entire class. Generally, students standing near or below the class average will receive grades near or below an average (C) grade. The instructor reserves the right to apply a curve, (see below) to the class grades. However, the instructor will not curve grades downward.
Grade |
Score |
|
100 - 94 |
-> |
A |
93 - 90 |
-> |
A- |
89 - 87 |
-> |
B+ |
86 - 84 |
-> |
B |
83 - 80 |
-> |
B- |
79 - 77 |
-> |
C+ |
76 - 74 |
-> |
C |
73 - 70 |
-> |
C- |
69 - 67 |
-> |
D+ |
66 - 64 |
-> |
D |
63 - 60 |
-> |
D- |
59 - 0 |
-> |
F |
Distribution percentages and grade scale are subject to change.
The Krider Curve may be employed on the final examination and course grades.
The Krider Curve was developed by Dr. Daniel W. Krider, Professor of Mathematics, Concord College, Athens, WV. The curve coerces grades into forming a distribution which more closely resembles a Normal Distribution. This is a partial solution to the problem of class grades tending to be skewed toward the lower values. The Krider Curve forces symmetrical clustering about the mean (property of central tendency) and smaller variance within the scores (less dispersion).
Given the following:
The following formula is applied to each individual student grade:
This is equivalent to averaging two X values with one grade of a 100. The lower scores receive a larger curve than the upper scores. An appropriate action when one considers that poorer students require more help. The curve ensures that a student will never surpass another student who scores higher.
Alpha can be set to achieve a desired class mean.
Where:
The formula for deriving alpha's value for a desired mean:
