How can I improve my grade?: 10 steps to improvement

We often get the "How can I improve my grade?" questions at at grading periods. It's not that hard for the most part:

1. Submit your assignments on time.
2. Submit your participation elements early.
3. Ensure your assignments are complete.
4. Ensure your assignments meet the assignment parameters.
5. Review at the examples provided — learn from them: be inspired, but don't emulate.
6. Listen to your instructor critique: "applying feedback to improve your work" is a grading point. Get on that.
7. Listen to all of your peer-critique: absorb > synthesize > apply ...
8. Watch all of the requisite videos and read all of the relevant posts: leverage that wisdom.
9. Ensure your projects are complete, meet parameters, and are on time... Did i mention that one already?
10. Ensure your projects leverage what you've learned in your previous classes — these baseline learnings are table-stakes. We can't re-teach Type-1 in Type-3, for instance... it's a given that in Type-3, you're doing all of what you learned in Type-1 and Type-2 and building on that. Otherwise, you're literally not evolving... growing... learning... thriving.
    
    

 

The last bullet point is really the only subjective element. Most of grading is very objectively based — it's a standards vs. performance equation. If you have a non-passing grade, the bulk of it is coming from numbers 1-9. Focus on that first. 

Also reflect on these posts:

• https://www.room557.com/2015/12/grading-411.html
• https://www.room557.com/2013/12/how-we-evaluate-creative-work.html
• https://www.room557.com/2016/10/keeping-yourself-honest.html
• https://www.room557.com/2012/02/results-v-effort.html
• https://www.room557.com/2013/10/hitting-a-slow-pitch-over-the-fence.html

If you have a grade that is lower than you would like, ask yourself the following:

• Are you spending the appropriate amount of time on your work?
• Is your work quality — building on previous class successes?
• Are you working efficiently? ... or are you confused?
• Have you missed any classes?
• Have you been delayed on assignments?
• Have your assignments been complete?
• Have you been participating in class?
• Have you been applying the specific class learnings?
• Have you been applying feedback to improve your work — are you listening?
• Are you in control of your project?
• Are you making real progress ... or pushing the same elements around on the plate?

You're chasing down an advanced degree... its not supposed to be easy, but it should be rewarding.

... After the above, if you still have questions, let's talk.