Gaming The Grade: How One Middle Schooler Beat A Virtual Learning Algorithm

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Robo-graders have drawn criticism from experts who say they can be biased against certain demographic groups, and from teachers who point out the absurdity of grading writing by machine. (wbur)

When Lazare’s first history assignment of the virtual school year came back scored 50/100, a resounding F, the seventh-grader was crestfallen.

Distraught but undeterred, Lazare tried again, this time intent on figuring out precisely what the algorithm wanted from him. Armed with tips from his mom — she suggested the program might give a higher grade to a longer response — his score soared to an 80.The answer that appeased the algorithm? “It was about four lines, one paragraph, and one of the sentences is just a bunch of words at the end,” Lazare says.

“Essentially, what I think [the algorithm] does is it looks for certain words,” Lazare says authoritatively. “And, uh, compares [your answer] to a pre-written essay to see if it's correct.”

 

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WBUR Defund npr

WBUR Real Science has never felt more relevant.

DrRubidium WBUR I gamed my actual teachers. One, if I did well on the test of the test, gave full credit for illegible scrawl on the question I didn't know. I know of a teacher who would give good grades rather than read entire long essays of tiny writing.

WBUR The county I happen to reside in relied heavily on these last semester. What they graded as quality work was unintelligible garbage.

WBUR

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