This article explores how CC faculty experience the transition to #altgrading approaches (contract grading, #ungrading, #specsgrading.
Lots of interest BUT implementation is often constrained by affective barriers, structural challenges, & gaps in leadership/collaboration.
Now? My students are more confident, more reflective, and more willing to try.
Mastery-based grading isn’t about being soft.
It’s about being clear, consistent, and focused on learning—not compliance.
#AltGrading #AssessmentForLearning #GrowthMindset
It’s like having a curriculum assistant who never misses a detail.
If you're designing around clarity, growth, and feedback - not just points - AI tools like this are game-changers.
#StandardsBasedGrading #TeacherTech #LessonPlanning #AltGrading
...and @youtoobio.bsky.social presented results showing that using multiple grading schemes especially benefits students excluded based on their ethnicity or race in STEM courses. Also, this doesn't negatively affect their performance in subsequent courses in a series! #AltGrading
Three awesome talks in "Research: Student Perceptions" at #TheGradingConference.
Across different institutions and even types of #AltGrading, students GET IT. They see how alt grading aligns more with true learning, and their views of it only become more positive after experiencing it.
Session "Special topics: Neurodiversity" at #TheGradingConference:
@sarahesilverman.bsky.social making the point that #AltGrading *can* provide a "tolerance for error" that is often needed when neurodivergent students are trying to communicate with neurotypical instructors or vice versa.
Oral exams are often a gold standard for assessing student learning. I loved #AltGrading because I used oral exams as a backstop for all written assessments that weren't passed on the first try. Many students who struggled to put their knowledge on paper did better demonstrating it out loud!
I know there are folks who do #AltGrading in large courses, so there are options out there.... Now I just have to find the time to search out and reflect on them. After I grade papers for the OTHER multi-section class I coordinate in addition to co-teaching this 550 student intro. 🤦♀️
I've fully drunk the Kool-aid around #AltGrading and #Ungrading, but this semester I began co-teaching a 550 person intro bio course run by another (amazing!!) instructor, and it's traditionally graded. We released course grades yesterday, and I have FEELINGS.
Hey #EduSky I’m looking for some ways to make a tracker for my #specsgrading course. I have tried explaining it and stds understand it, but looking for some chart/tracking ideas! #altgrading #HigherEd #syllabus work instead of #grading 😂
Newsprint paper pad on a cafeteria table with sticky notes, scissors, and sharpies.
It was some time ago when I began inviting teachers who were documenting their learning with me to scrapbook their evidence each time we met to share and interpret our warm data. We use mixed media and newsprint pads for this. #altgrading #ungrading #assessment #sbg #pedagogicaldocumentation
Photos of learning moments and reflections on sticky notes.
Photos of learning moments and reflections on sticky notes.
Photos of learning moments and reflections on sticky notes.
Documentation, qualitative data analysis, and storying our learning have revealed much that numbers cannot this year. I'm spending a piece of today curled up with some powerful findings and next-stepping... #altgrading #ungrading #sbg
If you're able to join us on Sunday, I hope you will. I'm very much looking forward to this conversation. #altgrading #EduSky #ungrading #UngradingChat
What principles guide my grading of student work? I unpack the three biggest ones in this article published today in the High Tech High Unboxed newsletter for K12 teachers. #altgrading
hthunboxed.org/three-princi...
An empty classroom
Crazy scenes here from my class meeting set aside for reattempts on the latest learning targets. Looks like this section is feeling pretty good about things. #altgrading #specsgrading
Today at Grading For Growth, @dccmath.bsky.social writes about how alt-grading can come in handy when life throws you a curveball, like a long bout of Covid. #altgrading #highered #highereducation
gradingforgrowth.com/p/how-to-han...
“People fear science. People hate science. Because they can’t make mistakes… As a professor, I can control the learning experience in my class.” 👀 #AltGrading #Ungrading
We've eliminated local testing and test prep, increased inquiry, multimodal composition, play...and boosted mandated standardized text performance steadily and significantly this way. #altgrading #ncte #sbg #EduSky
We have been using warm data, pedagogical documentation cycles, and lesson studies to better understand how we might help learners use evidence to support claims for years. #altgrading #edusky #ncte
I'm at Cornell today to talk about alternative grading. Ivy League institutions have particular needs and opportunities when it comes to grading reform and it's going to be an interesting day working with faculty on this. #altgrading
We're discussing the challenge of alternative grading with an LMS. Do y'all know of any useful resources for #altgrading using the Canvas gradebook? Or do you just leave the LMS gradebook behind?
Comment from a participant: This notion that faculty should aim for a certain grading distribution... Why would we aim to have some students master less course material than others?
That's a great framing. #altgrading #FailingOurFuture
If a student only has 10min (or 1hr, or w/e short period of time) for an assignment I'd rather get their best thinking for that time than whatever they can get from #GenAI. I try to set up my grading so they're incentivized to do that.
#EduSky #teaching #education #AltGrading #AI
Check out our new episodes! Last week we talked to Mary Reeves about using alt grading in a math 4 elementary teachers. This week we talk to a new teacher, Mariah Muller, about using alt grading from the very start of your career.
#altgrading #gradingforgrowth
thegradingpod.com/episodes/
At Grading For Growth today, guest author Giulia Toti of the University of British Columbia discusses a common issue: how to respond to concerns and pushback from students in an alternatively graded course. #altgrading
gradingforgrowth.com...
Today at Grading For Growth, I'm writing about the EMRN rubric, which has made some appearances in past posts -- and how my use of this simple grading tool has evolved alongside my use of alternative grading. #altgrading
gradingforgrowth.com...
Alright after a Grading for Growth reading group workshop I’m officially going to jump into standards based grading (with some specifications grading for good measure) in my intro stat course this spring. 🤞 it goes well! #StatEd #altgrading
Please RT! I'm writing a post about applying for academic jobs while #AltGrading and #Ungrading and would love to get some perspectives other than my own! Please reply or DM if you're willing to chat. :)
Wonderful reflection going on in #TheGradingConference keynote from Dr. Leila McCloud, asking us to consider Why me?, Why This?, Why now?
#ungrading #AltGrading
Today at Grading For Growth, I'm writing about innovation - a word that gets mixed responses from higher education folks. Specifically, is alternative grading actually innovative, and if so, is that good or bad?
#altgrading
gradingforgrowth.com...
