As active learning becomes increasingly popular, many instructors are looking for ways to align their assessment practices with their pedagogical values. In this learning community, participants will be introduced to various implementations of alternative grading such as standards-based grading, specifications grading, and ungrading that are used in different contexts to ensure a course’s assessment supports student learning and promotes equity. The community meetings will culminate with participants creating a revised syllabus ready to implement alternative grading in one of their classes next semester. 

At the end of this Learning Community:

• Participants will be able to describe three different alternative grading approaches

• Participants will develop a community of peers implementing alternative grading

• Participants will revise a syllabus to include an alternative grading approach

Meetings: Wednesdays 12-1ET/9-10PT

• 4/3: Introduction; Problems with traditional grading; The many flavors of alternative grading

• 4/10: Standards-aligned approaches

• 4/17: Specs/contract/labor-based approaches

• 4/24: Ungrading

• 5/1: Hybrid approaches; equity in grading

• 5/8: Designing your own approach

• 5/15: Peer feedback

• 5/22: Final sharing

For questions about the Learning Community email: Melanie Lenahan (melanie.lenahan@raritanval.edu) and Drew Lewis (drew.lewis@gmail.com)

For questions about logistics: Kaitlin Bonner (kbonner@sjf.edu) - RIOS support

Visit RIOS Institute website to learn about more opportunities to get involved.