Could Better Teaching Be Partly Responsible for Grade Inflation?

How do you know one teaching method is better than another?
How do you know when you’ve successfully developed more effective ways for students to learn the material in your courses?
If students are learning better, does that mean that they are earning better grades?

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How do we tell better learning from grade inflation?
I wish I had some answers to these questions. I don’t.
In evaluating teacher effectiveness and quality, we tend to rely on course evaluation questionnaires.

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Teaching Laboratories Under the Microscope- Part II

The Student Perspective
I know when I was a college student, I basically muddled my way through a 4-6 hr lab period, barely knowing what I was doing despite reading through the instructions and even preparing a “pre-lab” outline the night before. I enjoyed the actual being there for the most part, but I felt the laboratory sessions lasted way too long. Most of my labs didn’t seem connected to my course work and most were just lists of steps to be done in order.

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Composting; Coming to a Faculty Housing Area Near You!

In growing initiatives to extend environmental measures beyond Vassar’s campus, the College Committee on Sustainability, Building & Grounds, and the Office of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources are bringing composting to faculty housing areas! As composting in ACDC, the Retreat, and upperclassmen housing has become an integral part of Vassar’s culture, it is only natural to involve faculty as well in the collective effort to maintain sustainable practices on as well as off campus.
We’re excited to announce that composting will now be available in the Williams, Palmer and Kendrick housing areas.

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