What's in a Grade?
What’s in a Grade examines the history of grading, how to lay the foundation for a successful grading system, creating a standards-based classroom, and grading and reporting for students with special needs. Educators will learn that the primary goal of grading is to provide well-defined communication between the teacher, student, and parent to facilitate deeper learning, clearly defined expectations and benchmarks, and how students can achieve their full potential. Additionally, educators will learn to develop differentiated instruction based on information gathered from formative and summative assessments.
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Course Name: What's in a Grade? |
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Course Number: EDUC 714E |
Semester Credits: 3 |
Course Description
A better understanding of the elements included in a grade will lead to more effective feedback and communication between teachers and students and teachers and parents. Topics in this course include the purposes of grading and reporting, the effects of grading and reporting on student learning and motivation, the benefits of a multi-faceted, comprehensive reporting system, the rationale for separating nonacademic factors from the academic letter grade, the fairness of offering students more than one chance, and the profound effect of zeros when averaging a grade.
Goals
- Gain a deeper and more reflective understanding of the various aspects of developing grading and reporting systems.
- Understand how to implement best practices in grading and reporting systems.
- Know that communication is the primary goal of grading and reporting and that grading and reporting are integral parts of the instructional process.
- Learn that good reporting is based on good evidence.
- Learn the importance of creating a multi-faceted reporting system.
- Gain awareness that grading can be an invaluable tool for pinpointing strengths and weaknesses in students' understanding, provide a shared language for discussing learning, and help improve student performance over time.
- Receive a thorough grounding in grading research and theory.
- Clarification as to the basic purposes of grades and what should be included in them.
- Insight into the rubric-based approach to assessment and reporting.
- Expertise in how to compute final topic scores and final grades.
- Become aware of the alternatives to report cards with overall grades.
Course Contents
- Defining the Impetus for Change and the Mandate to Change Classroom Grading
- Exploring the History of Grading and Reporting
- Laying a Foundation for Change and What are Grades For?
- Building a Grading and Reporting System and What Should Be Included in Grades
- Keeping Track of Achievement
- Methods I: Letter Grades, Percentage Grades, and Other Categorical Grades
- Methods II: Standards-Based, Pass/Fail, Mastery Grading, and Narratives
- Grading and Reporting for Students with Special Needs
- Special Problems in Grading and Reporting
- Assigning Final Topic Scores and Computing Grades
- Model Reporting Forms and Classroom Assessments
- Guidelines for Developing Effective Reporting Systems
- Creating Learning Targets
- Summatively and Formatively Assessing Learning
- Differentiating by Readiness
- Communicating with Families
Evidence of Learning Outcomes
Upon completing What's in a Grade, the student will demonstrate a reflective understanding of how developing grading and reporting systems impact student learning through the application of concepts in the assigned projects.
How to Register
What's in a Grade is offered in both an online or emailed PDF format, and all books and materials are included in the registration. Like all of our courses, it is open for anyone to register at any time during a semester. After completion, students earn graduate, non-degree semester credit from an accredited university, as reflected on their official transcript.
Registration is straightforward and can be done online or over the phone. Courses are offered ongoing during three semesters, and you can start whenever you are ready! Students may choose to enroll in up to a maximum of 15-semester credits at any time during each semester. The registration dates are:
- Fall: September 1 - January 31
- Spring: February 1 - May 31
- Summer: June 1 - August 31