This document summarizes the results of a study on a "cafeteria style" grading system in a technology course at Utah Valley University. Some key findings: - Tests were the most commonly completed assignments, with 86% of students submitting at least half of tests. Discussions were also popular. - Higher effort assignments like reports and projects saw lower submission rates, with only 15% and 14% of students respectively completing half of those assignments. - Overall student evaluations of the cafeteria system were positive, averaging above 4.5 out of 5 on factors like organization, fairness, instructor knowledge and recommending the course. - The largest proportion of students (49.51%) achieved an

1. Tech 1010 Understanding Technology – Cafeteria Style
Utah Valley University
What it looks like:

2. The Results
Grade Scale
Grade Points Percent of 781 minimum points available*
A 376 48.1%
A- 356 45.6%
B+ 346 44.3%
B 336 43.0%
B- 316 40.5%
C+ 307 39.3%
C 297 38.0%
C- 277 35.5%
D+ 267 34.2%
D 257 32.9%
D- 237 30.4%
*Some sections had up to 1010 total points available
Of the 412 students who submitted more than one assignment,
 49.51% achieved an A grade,
 25.24% scored 2% or more above an A (which could have been completed with one or
two additional assignments),
 8.98% scored 5% or more above an A (which necessitated three or four additional
assignments),
 3.88% scored 10% or more above an A (which necessitated five or six additional
assignments), and about
 1% actually completed 30% or more than was required for an A (which necessitated
sixteen or seventeen additional assignments)
Percentage of Students Completing Each Assignment Sorted by % Completion
Total number of students: 419
Assignment
# of students who
completed
% of all
students
Midterm Exam 352 84.0%
Lesson 8 Quiz: Chapters 35, 36 338 80.7%
Lesson 7 Quiz: Chapter 31 337 80.4%
Lesson 4 Quiz: Chapters 24, 25, 26 325 77.6%
Lesson 11 Quiz: Chapters 19, 2, 21, 22, 23 323 77.1%
Lesson 1 Quiz: Chapters 27, 28 321 76.6%
Lesson 1 Quiz: Chapters 2,4,5,6,9 313 74.7%
Lesson 12 Quiz: Chapters 1, 11, 12, 32, 33 307 73.3%

3. Final Exam 305 72.8%
Lesson 2 Quiz: Chapters 7,13,14,15,16,17 303 72.3%
Lesson 3 Quiz: Chapters 29, 3 301 71.8%
Terms of Agreement Quiz 277 66.1%
Student Evaluation (bonus points) 257 61.3%
Discuss World Health Issue 196 46.8%
Energy Exercise 194 46.3%
Discuss Society & Technological Changes 192 45.8%
Service Learning Project 192 45.8%
Homemade Noodles Video / Images 187 44.6%
Early Tech. Adv. Report 185 44.2%
Bridge Video / Images - Construct Model Bridge 175 41.8%
Discuss Artificial Intelligence 168 40.1%
Technology Fair 2 160 38.2%
Persuasive Message 159 38.0%
Technology Solution: Problem Solving Worksheet 153 36.5%
Boat Design Document - Create a PVC Boat Design 153 36.5%
Communication Article 153 36.5%
Aerospace/Space Exploration Article 148 35.3%
Technology Fair 1 147 35.1%
Ideal Future 143 34.1%
Technology Issue Flyer 138 32.9%
Trombe Wall Video / Images 135 32.2%
Discuss Gaming Video 129 30.8%
Transportation Floor plan 126 30.1%
Disassemble Product 121 28.9%
Construction Worker Interview 119 28.4%
Farmer/Agriculture Interview 117 27.9%
Discuss Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD's) 114 27.2%
IBM Watson Report 114 27.2%
Discuss Company Ownership 110 26.3%
Solar Cooker Video / Images 108 25.8%
Homemade Cheese Video / Images 107 25.5%
Computer / Networking Paper 96 22.9%
Ethics Case Study 92 22.0%
Simple Product Summary 90 21.5%
Block-cut relief image 89 21.2%
Hydraulic Fracturing Report 85 20.3%
Land Vehicle Video / Images 79 18.9%
Network Protocols Diagram 79 18.9%
Medical Technology Paper 78 18.6%

4. Genetic Food Modification Report 74 17.7%
Motion Model 71 17.0%
Discuss Educational Resource Merlot 68 16.2%
Design Transport Vehicle 66 15.8%
Discuss Educational Resource Connexions 65 15.5%
Virtual Reality Video 65 15.5%
Force/Lift 56 13.4%
Original Invention Idea 50 11.9%
Nanotechnology Report 49 11.7%
Three Mechanisms Lift Ball 42 10.0%
Stockbroker interview 30 7.2%
Bonus point for finding broken link and reporting 7 1.7%
Note: Seven students only turned in one assignment so not part of grading assessments
Range of scores from A Level Grade by Year, Term and Faculty Member
2012 2013
Spr Fall Spr Sum Fall
Instr2 Instr2 Instr2 Instr2 Instr1 Instr2 Instr3
Grand
Total
Percent of
total
-40% or lower 6 8 2 5 3 2 12 38 9.22%
-30% to -39.99% 2 1 3 4 6 6 22 5.34%
-20% to -29.99% 1 1 1 2 1 7 13 3.16%
-10% to -19.99% 7 2 5 7 4 6 31 7.52%
-5% to -9.99% 7 8 5 10 1 7 12 50 12.14%
-1% to -4.99% 10 6 2 10 6 5 15 54 13.11%
0 to 1.99% 13 17 16 24 6 12 12 100 24.27%
2% to 4.99% 12 17 10 8 6 2 12 67 16.26%
5% to 9.99% 9 5 3 2 2 21 5.10%
10% to 14.99% 3 1 3 2 1 10 2.43%
15% to 19.99% 1 1 0.24%
20% to 29.99% 2 2 0.49%
30% or more 1 1 1 3 0.73%
Grand Total 70 66 50 72 37 32 85 412 100.00%

5. What Students Thought of Cafeteria Style
Student Evaluation Results on Five Point Scale
Term Course
Evaluations
Enrollment
Organized
Respectful
Fair
Clarity
Knowledgeable
TimelyFeedback
Standards
Recommend
Overall
Fall 2011 1010-001 28 37 4.6 4.9 4.9 4.5 4.8 4.9 4.4 4.8 4.7
Fall 2011 1010-003 23 35 4.6 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.9 4.7 4.4 4.8 4.8
Spring 2012 1010-002 29 35 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.8
Spring 2012 1010-003 27 34 4.6 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.6 4.7
Fall 2012 1010-003 31 34 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.3 4.7 4.6
Fall 2012 1010-004 23 32 4.8 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.9 4.8
Spring 2013 1010-002 31 35 4.6 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.6 4.5 4.9 4.8
Spring 2013 1010-x01 12 14 4.6 4.5 4.7 4.5 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.7 4.6
Summer
2013 1010-x01
31 36 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.8
Summer
2013 1010-x02
29 38 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8 4.8
Fall 2013 1010-x01 27 31 4.8 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7
Fall 2013 1010-x04 26 34 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.2 4.2 4.4 4.4 4.5 4.4
Fall 2013 1010-x07 29 38 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.2 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.4
Fall 2013 1010-x08 6 20 4.8 4.5 4.7 4.2 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.8 4.7
Fall 2013 1010-x09 21 31 4.6 4.4 4.6 4.1 4.2 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.4
Averages: 4.7 4.7 4.8 4.5 4.7 4.7 4.6 4.7 4.7
Source:
Anne Arendt , Angela Trego , Jonathan Allred , "Students reach beyond expectations with
cafeteria style grading", Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, Vol. 8 Iss: 1, pp.2 –
17
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/JARHE-03-2014-0048?af=R

6. What Students Like to Do
Three instructors who used cafeteria-style grading in a Fundamentals of Technology course
analyzed sixteen class sections totaling 1002 students
The data concludes that the largest chosen assignment as well as greatest indicator of a student’s
final grade was test submittal
The 58 baseline assignments (more could be added at faculty’s discretion) were divided into four
types or categories:
• Discussions: Logged online group discussions
• Tests: Open book, unlimited time quizzes and tests with questions pulled from chapter-
based test banks
• Reports: Short written reports
• Projects: Construction of models or prototypes
First, and perhaps the most interesting, is that tests were taken far more frequently than any of
the other assignment type as an overwhelming 86% of students submitted at least 50% of the
tests and 48% of students submitted every test offered
Discussions were also common. Perhaps they were perceived as easier for point attainment
because they only required a short duration of time and a few thoughtful responses. Whatever
the reason, 51% of students submitted at least 50% of the discussions.
Reports and Projects, both requiring additional effort and worth substantially more points, were
split on the number of students submitting assignments for these types, at 15% and 14%
respectively, completing 50% of the assignments.

7. Total percentage submitting assignment types
Grade versus assignment types
Source:
Trego, Angela, & Arendt, Anne (2015). “What Students Choose to Complete When Given
Options”. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. Submitted for consideration
September, 2016.