Abstract
The difficulties associated with translating a set of scores into letter-grades are discussed. A novel method for automating this process, the Fuzzy Grading System, is developed and compared to traditional practices. Letter-grades are recognized to be f u u y descriptors of students' performance. Thus, operations aimed at defining letter-grade bouhdaries are naturally carried out in the context of fuzzy set theory and logic. The Fuzzy Grading System utilizes students' and instructor's performance measures in order to m d i y a set of collectively approved, a priori fuzzy grades, so as to produce a "fair" mark distribution. The validity of grades is increased by compensating for factors that are not directly accessible to simpler, traditional grading methods.
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- Javier R. Echauz (S'93) received a B.S.E.E. degree from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagiiez Campus in 1988, and an M.S.E.E. degree from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1989. He is currently an instructor on study leave with the University of Puerto Rico, and a GEM, du Pont, and President's Fellow pursuing a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. His interests include novel teaching methods, fuzzy logic, and dynamical systems. Mr. Echauz is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Tau Beta Pi.
- George J. Vachtsevanos (S'62-M'63-SM'89) received a B.E.E. degree from the City College of New York, an M.E.E. degree from New York University, and a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the City University of New York. He was a member of the faculty of CUNY and Manhattan College before joining the faculty of the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece in 1978. In 1984, he became a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Vachtsevanos has co-authored over a hundred technical papers. His interests include fuzzy logic and other intelligent control strategies. Dr. Vachtsevanos is a Senior Member of IEEE, and a Member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Xi.