Final answer:
Grades I, CR, W, NC, and WF represent Incomplete, Credit, Withdrawal, No Credit, and Withdraw Fail, respectively, in a student's academic record. These grades reflect individual student performance, yet there's concern over grade inflation where the grading scale has shifted, resulting in higher grades for what was once average performance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The grades I, CR, W, NC, and WF symbolize different statuses in a student's academic record. An 'I' grade typically means Incomplete, indicating that the student has not finished all coursework. A 'CR' grade stands for Credit, showing that the student has completed the course satisfactorily under a pass/fail or credit/no credit system. 'W' means Withdrawal, where the student has withdrawn from the course after the add/drop period without receiving a grade. 'NC' denotes No Credit, indicating that the student did not meet the minimum requirements to earn credit in a pass/fail or credit/no credit course. Lastly, 'WF' symbolizes Withdraw Fail, where the student withdrew from the course but was failing at the time of withdrawal.
There is a growing concern over grade inflation, where achievements that would previously earn a 'C' or average grade now often earn a student a 'B' or an 'A'. This change in the relationship between letter grades and achievements affects how grades reflect student performance. If a teacher adopts a collective grading model because of sympathy for students with lower grades, representing a break away from the competitive system, every student might end up with a median grade, like a 'C', regardless of their individual performance. This could significantly impact how students perceive success and effort.