What’s with grades?

It’s reading week. I have been relaxing for the past few days. While easing myself back into the routine of homework I started to ponder why (or if) grades are important in the context of university. I have received many grade types during my schooling. From letter grades to numbers from 1 to 4 to percentages and now back to letter grades. Each of which being defined differently based on competencies judged important. This is a confusing affair.

Typing this question in my favourite search engine lead me to a fascinating and scholarly article. Do Grades Matter? A Case Study of the Effects of Grade Neutrality on Adult Learners  by Kathleen D Kelsey.  I have not yet had the chance to read it completely.  The article explains that post-secondary education is designed to promote the development of lifelong learning habits. In high school, grades were my motivation. Now, my university courses, especially those in Computation Arts, stimulate my creativity. I develop a natural ability to question and discover answers. Just like I did now. I suppose grades don’t matter after all. As long as my life motivates me to keep learning.   

Related links :

• Do Grades Matter? A Case Study of the Effects of Grade Neutrality on Adult Learners  by Kathleen D Kelsey

• Do grades really matter? - MacLeans article