When you return a graded exam to your students, you know they’re going to focus in on the grade, to the exclusion of everything else. That’s understandable, but problematic: there’s a lot more information in a graded exam than just the grade – and it’s information that students could use to improve their performance. They… Read more »
Grading
How many points is this class worth?
As the fall semester begins, instructors are finalizing syllabi, including the grading scale. On the first day of class (i.e. syllabus day) students will eagerly flip through (or scroll the LMS) to locate the grading scale. What will they need to do to earn enough points to get the grade they want? We spend hours… Read more »
Implementing Successful Peer Review Practices
Peer review—the process of engaging students in providing feedback on each other’s work—is one of the most productive practices for courses that integrate any form of writing. While receiving useful feedback from their peers, students discover how others approach writing tasks. In doing so, students learn how to give, receive, and integrate feedback—skills that are… Read more »
Assessing Student Learning in the Online, Synchronous Classroom
If you’re accustomed to teaching in-person, I’m sure hybrid or online teaching has required some changes to your lessons. At first glance, the modalities of synchronous online classrooms and in-person classrooms may seem at odds. However, many types of assessments (e.g., exams, essays, quizzes, discussions) can be used for both synchronous online and face-to-face (f2f)… Read more »
Inclusivity in the Online Classroom
As our colleagues previously highlighted, the literature on inclusivity “addresses the question of respect and shared agency.” Inclusivity is a rare moment in our academic theory where thought requires action–requires the practice of inclusive teaching. At a coffee hour earlier this summer break, we were joined by instructors from across campus who shared their successes… Read more »
A Faculty Approach to Equitable Exams
This is a guest post by Dr. Denvil Duncan, Associate Professor in the O’Neill School and Faculty Chair of the Hudson & Holland Scholars Program. Many of us are trying to figure out how to assess students online. CITL has already shared resources that will aid in this process. Handling Exams when your Course Unexpectedly… Read more »