Grades represent for the student an expert's appraisal of what they know in a certain discipline or subject. They often provide access for the student to a goal such as access to a college, university or to a job. My experience at university earning a degree in nutrition was only the first step in gaining access to the professional designation of dietitian. All graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition must attain an internship position at an accredited facility to complete their education and receive their professional designation. There are more graduates then there were internship positions. Students were once again put into a competitive position, with grades as the focus. There was yet another hurtle to jump, access to an internship. Grades become a major motivating factor in this competitive environment. Grades are motivators toward professional goals. It is only after attending graduate school that the love of learning has become my goal.
"Unfortunately, grades motivate studying to get a good grade rather than studying for learning that is retained and used" McKeachie (1994). It is important when designing evaluation methods that motivational techniques become an underlying focus. In the ARCS model of motivation relevance, confidence and satisfaction speak to the issue of the love of learning. Students must realize the relevance of the subject they are learning to future competence in a field of study. Consequently their confidence and eventually competency become the underlying motivators. Grades can provide attention and satisfaction but often do not result in prolonged competence. Evaluation techniques that consider student relavance and confidence can provide motivation to life long learning. Educators must increase the value of learning and affect the students' expectancy that investment in course activities will lead to success in achieving their goals McKeachie (1994).
Grade must reflect the changing world. Some of the valued skills of the past are no longer important. Today's job market demands a great deal from its employees. In a period of great change many employers are looking for people with "soft skill" such as flexibility, the ability to deal with people and with change. Skills needed in the work place are rapidly changing. An emphasis has changed from learning specific skills to problem-solving and interpersonal skills.. At the root of these skills is student motivation to learn. Since grades provide access for students to many personal goals,. it is important that they reflect an evaluation of the skills graduates must possess to be successful.