is that REALLY what they intend for the course grade to be about
Unfortunately, it may be. Parents need to be alert to the ways in which the educational system is being tuned and used as a tool to change our society into one in which all are conditioned to perform at a designated level and pace, foregoing individual performance review for assigned work-group review.
Weighting
compliance with a required behavior (such as posting one sentence on an online discussion board) more heavily than
demonstrated mastery of academics may be accidental, incidental, coincidental, or it could be part of an overall pattern. Ushered in by Common Core, extensive
data collection is logging details about individuals, including students. When students access online assignments, their IP address may be recorded. Educational institutions may activate the video cam and microphone, making observations into the home or study environment. The
American Community Survey of the US Census requires individuals to provide information about various computer and communications devices in the home, including the mode and means of accessing the internet.
While there is an emerging trend, among teachers and schools there is wide variance in adopting such measures so depending upon local norms some parents may recognize this occurring and others may not.
