Have you ever been graded by a college professor? Are you a college professor? If the answer to either question is yes, you should read this book.

It details the results of a national survey on student's, professor's, parent's and business recruiter's attitudes about grades. Among the results, college faculty think that the difference between a "C" student and an "A" student is apparent in what that person knows and can do for 2-5 years or more. Other people thought it was much less.

The authors describe how grades depend on the context. Everyone seems to know this except the people who assign grades. You have probably experienced classes where you were thankful to get a C and other classes where an A was of no consequence. Unfortunately, reliance on GPA to sum up a person's college education does not take into account this context effect.

Another focus of the book is the discussion of the differences between learning oriented students and grade oriented students. The authors conclude that grade oriented students are using grades as a benchmark of their own value and performance. See how the structure and organization of a classroom can promote grade orientation or learning orientation.

Find out which college pollicies promote grade inflation and how grade inflation is a non-issue to everyone but college faculty.

In the end, the authors make 2 provocative proposals that would produce a wonderful transformation in the college experience of everyone and promote learning in college classrooms.

This is a must read if you enjoy westerns