If a student gave your 0 pressure answer in my class, I would be thrilled! That answer shows a deep level of conceptual understanding. That is the beauty of having students explain their logic. Sometimes they are more creative than us, solve a problem a different way and we get to learn too! I use standards-based grading so I do not award points but that answer would be a "got it" in my class.
It all comes down to the learning target. If the student demonstrates mastery of the intended learning target in a different way then you expected, mastery is mastery. If the student does not demonstrate mastery on the intended learning target but has sound logic, maybe you just have no evidence of mastery yet, not 0 points.
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Comment on Gas Laws and the Over-Reliance on Algorithmic Thinking
In reply to MC vs Free Response by Andrew Ekstrom
If a student gave your 0 pressure answer in my class, I would be thrilled! That answer shows a deep level of conceptual understanding. That is the beauty of having students explain their logic. Sometimes they are more creative than us, solve a problem a different way and we get to learn too! I use standards-based grading so I do not award points but that answer would be a "got it" in my class.
It all comes down to the learning target. If the student demonstrates mastery of the intended learning target in a different way then you expected, mastery is mastery. If the student does not demonstrate mastery on the intended learning target but has sound logic, maybe you just have no evidence of mastery yet, not 0 points.