Quiz

Yesterday, I gave my students a pop quiz. It wasn't to test whether they knew the material, it was to promote discussion. (I wanted to make a point about the metric system, so I gave a quiz on the English system of weights and measures.)

Of course the students all failed. I expected them too. When they asked whether I was counting the quiz for a grade, I told them "yes!" Of course, I was planning to just assign a 'participation' grade, and not assign the meager points that they had earned.

Today, one of my students sheepishly asked if I was really going to record the 20% that he had earned on the quiz. After toying with the class for a little while, I thanked the student for having the courage to question what I had told him. I used that as a learning experience to point out that we should not just accept what we are told, but that it is ok to question things in life.

N.B. Here is the extra credit question from the quiz (hardly anyone got it right): Which is heavier, a pound of gold or a pound of feathers?

The answer probably isn't the one you think it is!