In "The EZ Way Out" (September 26, 2024), R. Czyz reflects on his early teaching experience with the EZ Grader, a popular tool that quickly calculates percentages based on correct and incorrect answers on student assessments. Czyz recalls using the EZ Grader during his initial years in teaching, finding it convenient to input grades efficiently. However, he later realized that while the tool made grading easy, it failed to help him provide meaningful feedback to students. He acknowledges that simply assigning percentages without offering students constructive guidance did little to support their learning growth.
Over time, Czyz grew more thoughtful about how he assessed student work, focusing on giving feedback that encouraged students to improve and develop their skills. He emphasizes that feedback should be an essential part of the learning process, allowing students to understand their mistakes and work toward improvement.
The article ultimately serves as a reminder to educators that while tools like the EZ Grader may offer convenience, they should not replace the critical process of engaging with students' work and fostering meaningful progress through feedback. Czyz encourages teachers to avoid taking shortcuts and invest time in helping students grow academically rather than relying on impersonal grading methods.
Don't Take the EZ Way Out
by Michael Keany
Sep 26
The EZ Way Out
4 O'Clock Faculty
Rich Czyz
September 26, 2024
In "The EZ Way Out" (September 26, 2024), R. Czyz reflects on his early teaching experience with the EZ Grader, a popular tool that quickly calculates percentages based on correct and incorrect answers on student assessments. Czyz recalls using the EZ Grader during his initial years in teaching, finding it convenient to input grades efficiently. However, he later realized that while the tool made grading easy, it failed to help him provide meaningful feedback to students. He acknowledges that simply assigning percentages without offering students constructive guidance did little to support their learning growth.
Over time, Czyz grew more thoughtful about how he assessed student work, focusing on giving feedback that encouraged students to improve and develop their skills. He emphasizes that feedback should be an essential part of the learning process, allowing students to understand their mistakes and work toward improvement.
The article ultimately serves as a reminder to educators that while tools like the EZ Grader may offer convenience, they should not replace the critical process of engaging with students' work and fostering meaningful progress through feedback. Czyz encourages teachers to avoid taking shortcuts and invest time in helping students grow academically rather than relying on impersonal grading methods.
Original Article
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Prepared with the assistance of AI software
OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com