ASSESSING STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND INTEREST FROM THE START OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO PRESENT USING ENGAGEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND GRADES AS INDICATORS - PART TWO

Current research is a continuation of our previous undertaking to compare students’ success during the pandemic and post-pandemic. Reported data was revised by adding more survey information from other geology professors teaching the same course, especially introduction to geology and a few gateway courses between Spring 2022 and Fall 2022. Previous research was also augmented by the addition of available pre-pandemic data for the same course.

Preliminary comparison of the data shows a gaussian distribution with a precipitous drop in A's and B's corresponding to the pre-pandemic time, followed by a steady recovery over the progression of time. Low performers (earning grades such as C, D, and F) ranged from 20 to 24% with respect to post-pandemic and about 15% pre-pandemic. Very poor to failing grades (D,F) ranged from 5 to 22% post-pandemic, with less than 5% pre-pandemic. Grade distributions have not recovered to their pre-pandemic levels yet, but the trend is encouraging. Low performer grades are still around 20% but failing grades have dropped to 8%.

Attendance remained poorly correlated to final grade scores. Attendance during online-learning is not always a viable parameter since some teachers chose not to place a large portion of the final grade on attendance during online learning. The correlation between attendance and grades will be re-examined. Teachers now have the option to place more weight on attendance in-person. More data is needed to determine if this will be done, and what effect this will have on student performance. The transition back to in-person learning now gives professors the option to be more rigorous about the portion of a final grade due to participation. Future research will heavily rely on a workable rubric that ensures tracking changes in participation grades, including what percentage of the final grade is due to participation, how participation was measured, and how well the students did in that area.