Why students write in blue pen and teachers correct in red pen?
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Answer:
Red pens have traditionally been used by teachers when grading papers – ostensibly to make their comments and markings stand out from the original work – but this new research suggests that the use of a red pen may convey unintentional negative emotions.
Explanation: Teachers should stop using red pens to mark homework and tests because it could upset schoolchildren, U.S researchers say.
A study showed students think they've been assessed more harshly when their work is covered in red ink compared to more neutral colours like blue.
Sociologists Richard Dukes and Heather Albanesi from the University of Colorado told the Journal of Social Science: 'The red grading pen can upset students and weaken teacher-student relations and perhaps learning.'
In 2008, hundreds of schools banned teachers from using red ink to correct work because they considered it 'confrontational' and 'threatening'.
But Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, slammed the findings saying: 'In my own experience of 35 years in teaching is that children actually prefer teachers to use red ink because they can read comments more easily.
'I think this research is misguided. The problem with using a colour like green or blue is that it's not clear.
'A lot of schools seem to have a culture where they don't like critcising children but actually this helps them.
'It's not intimidating children want to see where they've made a mistake. I think it's a rather silly idea.'
Red associated with 'warning, prohibition, caution, anger, embarrassment and being wrong' according to researchers from the University of Colorado.
To test their theory, 199 students were shown one of four different versions of a fictitious student's essay which had been marked, graded and commented on by a lecturer.