[theaeolist]

As a CS university lecturer, I acknowledge that there is little room for exploration, and the chance of being wrong, in most assessment schemes. Any mistake loses points and lowers the GPA, so nobody likes to make mistakes, however creative and interesting. Shame. The system cannot be easily revised because the students themselves oppose it. To them it seems intuitively unfair that somehow those who make mistakes may get the same points as those who get it right.

[WilliamEdward]

You didn't read their first point - if you're going to be wrong, do so in private. You should be making as many mistakes as possible at home or after hours so that by class or test time you never make them again. Mistakes are a way of learning but not a way of doing. After all, the entirety of life was built with 1 tool - the mistake.

[jjjensen90]

Wait a minute, mistakes are a "way of learning" but you should avoid them in school?

[WilliamEdward]

You should avoid them when trying to produce actual good work and results, obviously. Before that point, make as many as you want so you can learn how to produce flawless results.

[DominikPeters]

At my university (UK) only final exams count, and everything before then (such as problem sets) are marked/graded only for feedback, which is a nice middle ground. Requires students motivated enough to submit work that won't count.