Hi, tenth and eleventh grade students. As some of you are thinking about going abroad to study, it is important to know key features of the educational system of the country you plan to go. According to the survey the school did most of you are willing to study in the USA.
Therefore, this e-tivity is about knowing the grading system in schools and universities in USA. By the end you will be able to:
- identify how schools grade students in the USA
- identify key strategies to get good grades
- compare the USA grading system and our school grading system
Average online time: 40 min
Average offline time: 40 min
1) Thinking about what I know
a) Have you ever studied abroad? If so, what did you like about it?
b) What do you know about grades in American schools?
Let's share our ideas and experiences. Write the answers to the previous questions in the following shoutbox.
2) Finding information
a) Look at the cartoon below.
■ What is the boy's father holding?
■ What does the "F" mean?
■ What is a report card?
b) Let's watch a video. Turn on your speakers. Your mission is to take some notes as you listen, and then answer some questions.
Video downloaded from http://vimeo.com/6631750
Ready...click here to answer some questions about the video you just watched (you can always go back and watch the video as many times as you need)
What would you say is the main difference between the USA grading system and Rochester grading system?
c) Let's read an article about how to get and keep a good GPA. Please, click here.
Afer reading the article, write down on a word document file the answers to these questions:
■ Why is it important to have a high GPA?
■ What strategies of the ones mentioned in the article do you currently apply?
■ What stategies would you like to implement? Why?
■ What does it mean the last sentence of the article "Education remains the single factor that will separate those who are prepared to lead from those who desire to lead. It's never too late." ?
3) Reflecting upon USA grading system
Now, you are ready to write a one-page essay about a) differences and similarities between USA grading system and our school grading system, and b) strategies you might implement when studying abroad in order to get and keep good grades.
You will be graded according to this rubric.
Please send your essay to abogoya@rochester.edu.co by May 7th, 6:00 p.m.
Below you will find a list of additional resources, if you have any question please leave your comment here. I will answer it as soon as possible.
- http://www.discoverabroad.com/us/livingabroad/education/gradingsystemintheus.htm
- http://www.americangraduateeducation.com/folder1/subfolder1/edusystem.htm
- http://www.usaeducationguides.com/guidance/articles/080703-us-college-admission.jsp
- http://www.ehow.com/facts_5148015_gpa-calculated.html
Resources:
The activities here proposed were done using the following programs:
- a) Hotpotatoes versión 6
- b) http://www.gifup.com/
- c) http://www.freeshoutbox.net/
