As final exams and final essays begin to peak out from their lurking places, I wanted to provide some strategies for efficient grading to assuage some of our anxieties surrounding late exam days this semester. (My students and I were unlucky enough to book a December 20th final exam day.) Here are some quick ideas… Read more »
Tag: grading
Implementing the innovative grading practice of Specs Grading into your course
Are you interested in grading methods that take the unnecessary stress out of the process, saving you considerable time and mental energy without sacrificing rigor? If so, you might be interested in innovative or alternative grading, a broader umbrella term for assessment practices which eliminate or greatly reduce the usage of assigned points and letter… Read more »
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 »
Is the Gamification fad truly over?
Gamification of learning emerged as a pedagogy in the early to mid-2000s with a “fad”ish following in higher education. But is the fad over? Maybe not! Another look may be warranted. Much has improved in learning technology since the early 2000s and the majority of Americans ages 18-29 say they often/sometimes play video games. Gamification… Read more »
A Better Way To Grade
Specifications Grading (“Specs” Grading) is a form of contract grading based on the amount of work students choose to complete in a course. Allowing students to make this decision up front can increase motivation and self-direction in a course, and it can also focus and reduce grading for the instructor. Specs Grading motivates students like… Read more »
Feedback, not just Grading
Good feedback creates dialogue between the instructor and student. In order to foster this dialogue, it’s important to give students feedback both early and frequently throughout the semester. Timely feedback allows students to act on the information to improve their learning while still in your course. This requires providing students with frequent opportunities to demonstrate… Read more »