AVID Awards

Overview

The Advanced Via Individualized Determination (AVID) site team organizes award ceremonies to celebrate the hard work of all the AVID students, and also to recognize specific students.  Each teacher gives several awards under the categories of Excellence in Academic Work and Most Improved, and the number is unlimited.  Furthermore, as an addition to these awards, teachers are also permitted to create his or her own category of awards.

Reflection

As an AVID co-coordinator, it was one of my responsibilities to organize the award ceremony.  It was time-consuming to communicate with the teachers regarding the awards, finalize the list of students receiving awards, reserve a time and place for the celebration, and create award certificates.  However, as the awards were being handed out, I felt that the efforts made were worthwhile.  Some students were pleasantly surprised when they were called to receive an award, and there was anticipation in many of the students’ faces, in hopes of being recognized; throughout the ceremony, students were animated and enthusiastic.  Often times, students are given such negative feedback on a regular basis, that when they are acknowledged for their hard work, they cannot contain their joy.

Nevertheless, near the end of the ceremony, I noticed some students who appeared dispirited because they did not receive an award.  When I observed this, I contemplated whether this was the best thing to have done; I questioned the idea of awards in general.  I want to recognize all students, especially those who I know have been committed in their work.  I am convinced that what we did was positive in the sense that we recognized improvements, not only academic excellence, allowed other categories that included creativity and other talents typically not acknowledged in such ceremonies, and also did not limit the number of awards given.  I was also under the impression that many students became motivated to continue to be or become more diligent subsequent to the ceremony.  On the other hand, it was disheartening for the others, and therefore, I am conflicted regarding this matter; I believe that true learning does not occur through incentives, and this ceremony is a complete contradiction to that.

I have not come to a conclusion as to what is ethical.  One thing I am sure of is that for the coming school year, the AVID site team must strive to find more inclusive ways to motivate, encourage, and inspire the students without excluding any of them.

Connection to CPSEL

1.3 Allocated resources to support the vision of learning, especially for all subgroups of students by organizing an awards ceremony

5.4  Sustained professional commitment and effort by encouraging and inspiring others to higher levels of performance, commitment, and motivation.