Now this is an interesting topic.
I would say this is one of the more difficult methods for grading. I know a lot of instructor’s grade on a Bell or some other method for evaluating assignments, but I don't use these methods.
At the beginning of each quarter there is a detail questionnaire they fill out about their knowledge and experience in this subject being taught. Some students have been in this field for a long time, so I grade them at a higher level than do the students that have no experience in this field or subject.
I also have found that some students are missing information that should have been taught at a lower class and for whatever reason were not. This also factors into my grading decisions. My problem is I only teach advance classes, so I never teach the lower and more basic classes. I would say this is where my frustration lies.
Good effort is also an important criteria in grading. I current have a Telecom Manager in one of my Senior level Telecom courses. But she doesn't turn in great work. She knows her subject, but just lacks that extra effort to make her assignments really good. So this is downgraded.
I have verbally spoken with her and she knows it and doesn't agree with me. Work is keeping her really busy, so her grades are being affected.
These are my thoughts on fairness.
By the way, when I make mistakes in my course and students do find them, I reward them (and I get these mistakes corrected ASAP). Fairness goes both ways and is a 50/50 proposition.
