It’s no secret that manual grading in schools is a pain. The process is time-consuming, tedious, and often results in inaccurate grades. Here are 8 ways manual grading can be painful for both teachers and students:
1. Manual grading takes up a lot of time.
The biggest pain point with manual grading is that it takes forever. Teachers have to go through each assignment, write down grades, and then calculate averages by hand. This process can take hours, depending on the class size.
2. Manual grading is often inaccurate.
Another pain point is that manual grading often leads to inaccurate grades. This is because teachers can make mistakes when they’re calculating grades by hand. Additionally, students can also make mistakes when they’re writing down their grades.
3. Manual grading can be biased.
A less obvious disadvantage to manual grading is considering that it can be biased. This is because teachers may have personal biases that can impact the grades they give to students. For example, a teacher may be more likely to give a higher grade to a student they like.
4. Manual grading decreases motivation.
When grades are manually calculated, it can lead to decreased motivation among both teachers and students. This is because the process is so tedious and time-consuming that it’s easy to get discouraged. Additionally, when grades are inaccurate, it’s hard for students to trust the process.
5. Manual grading can be stressful.
The process of manual grading can be stressful for both teachers and students. For teachers, the stress comes from having to spend so much time on a single task. For students, the stress comes from not knowing if their grades are accurate.
6. Manual grading can lead to mistakes.
Since somebody is doing all the grading by hand, there is more likely to be mistakes involved. This might include miscalculating a grade, forgetting to add a grade, or writing down the wrong grade. Such errors can be frustrating for both teachers and students.
7. Manual grading takes away from learning.
Another big pain point with manual grading is that it takes away from learning. This is because the process is so time-consuming that it leaves less time for teaching and learning in the classroom.
8. Manual grading can be unfair.
Last but not least, manual grading can be unfair. This is because the process is often inconsistent and can lead to inaccurate grades. Additionally, personal biases can play a role in the grades that teachers give to students. As a result, manual grading can be a very frustrating experience for both teachers and students.
Conclusion
Overall, manual grading in schools can be quite painful for both teachers and students. The process is time-consuming, often inaccurate, and can lead to decreased motivation and unfairness. If possible, it’s best to avoid manual grading altogether. The best way to avoid this process is to automate your grading by using a school gradebook software. This will save you time, energy, and frustration in the long run. Plus, there are numerous low-cost gradebook options available online, if you take a look!
Zara Raza is the Head of Marketing at SchoolCues, the premier all-in-one school management system for small schools.
