Grading and Feedback

At Scale: Create Practical and Effective Assessments

Common assessment and feedback challenges faced in large-enrollment classrooms include the following:

What is Mastery Grading?

The key underlying principle of mastery grading is that all students can learn, but different students will learn at different rates and need different strategies and supports to assist them in their learning.

What is Contract Grading?

A type of standards-based grading incorporating the use of a contract between the student and the instructor on what must be completed and to what level of mastery to earn a specific grade.

What is Specification Grading?

Specification grading integrates aspects of mastery grading, competency-based grading, and contract grading to ensure students meet the learning objectives for a course.

Alternative Grading for College Courses

Explore other ways of giving feedback because traditional grading systems do not increase student motivation or interest in learning and can have negative impacts on student performance.

Impact on Assessment Practices

As you explore various generative AI tools, you’ll notice that they are more successful with some aspects of writing than others.

How to Design Effective Rubrics

Rubrics can be effective assessment tools when constructed using methods that incorporate four main criteria: validity, reliability, fairness, and efficiency.

Introduction to Rubrics

A rubric divides an assessment into smaller parts (criteria) and then provides details for different levels of performance possible for each part.

Using formative assessments to improve critical thinking & writing skills

Explore five formative assessment approaches focusing on improving writing skills and critical thinking.

Additional Classroom Assessment Resources

The following resources address assessment resources for both online and in-person classes.

CTT Guide to Classroom Assessment

Use classroom assessment to investigate what students are learning and how well they are learning it.

Identifying, prioritizing, and aligning learning goals to assessments with the iTGI

The Interactive Teaching Goals Inventory tool provides instructors with a valuable resource to align their learning goals with various assessment techniques.

Make Assessments Authentic

An assignment is “authentic” if it resembles what a person might do with the knowledge and skills that you aim to teach students in your course.

The Importance of Practice

Assessments are often described as falling into two categories: formative and summative. Learn about both in this resource.

Proctoring and Academic Integrity

Maintaining high standards of academic integrity is an essential feature of any class - learn more in this section.

Database of formative assessment strategies

The strategies described in detail in Angelo and Cross (1993) are primarily designed for in-person classrooms but, most are easily adapted to online.

Using the Canvas Gradebook

9-7-21 Presenters shared Canvas grade book management tips that help save time and effort and increase the accuracy of grading.

Using Repeated Practice

Learn how repetition can help students master the basics with featured instructor Rebecca Roston.

Scaffold final projects to improve learning

Learned from featured instructor Leah Sandall about how to use the scaffolding technique in teaching

Developing an Undergraduate Learning Assistant Program

3-29-21 Participants learned how to establish and manage an undergraduate teaching assistant program to support the needs of their course or program.

More reps for better learning

Cal Garbin makes extensive use of large question banks to provide opportunities for his students to do enough reps that they develop invaluable skills

Strategies for Faculty Efficiency: Grading and Time Management

7-31-20 Participants learned how to decrease time spent on grading such as developing useful rubrics and keeping a list of frequent comments.

Moving Beyond Exams

7-14-20 This webinar discussed how the use of alternative assessments can foster unique experiences and a conducive environment for academic growth.

Academic Integrity and Assessment Workshop

7-10-20 Participants gained a greater understanding of their colleagues' experiences with academic integrity and assessment.

Geppert puts Canvas peer review to the test

John Geppert, professor of finance and director of assessment, believes peer review may offer a way to include more writing practice in more courses.

Hands-On Learning and Assessment

There is no way to replace the valuable experience that students get in a hands-on course environment, but there are alternatives

Rethinking your Syllabus: Specifications Grading

In specifications grading there are no points – just a two-level grading structure that would be categorized such as pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory.

Key Resources for Fall 2020

As faculty prepare for their courses, the following resources may be of interest - each resource page has links to more related resources.

Remote Teaching Assessment Guide

Moving to remote teaching provides you an opportunity to rethink some of your assessments. This guide will discuss various ways that you can assess students in an online environment.

Assessing Student Learning

Assessing student learning involves asking what your students need to know or be able to do. And, what would be the best evidence of progress?

Classroom Assessment

Assessment is how an instructor learns what a student does or does not know about the course material.

Integrating Technology

Knute Broady Collection: Ideas for Integrating Technology.

Assessment Techniques

Knute Broady Collection: Ideas for Assessment Techniques.

Summative Assessment Ideas

Knute Broady Collection: Ideas for summative assessment.

Formative Assessment Ideas

Knute Broady Collection: Ideas for Formative Assessment.

Additional Materials - Assessment

Need a new read? Check out the Center for Transformative Teaching's library and recommended readings.

Fresh Voices on Assessment

Highlighting recent publications, the Fresh Voices section of the Knute Broady Collection aims to showcase the work of emerging scholars.