Changing the Formula with Kent Davis

Episode Summary What if assessment was less about earning points and more about understanding what students have actually learned? In this episode, we talk with PUC chemistry professor Kent Davis about why he moved away from traditional approaches to grading and testing—and what he does instead. We explore how his methods have evolved, what he’s learned from students along the way, and why rethinking assessment can change the way students engage with learning. What You’ll Hear in This Episode Why professor Davis began rethinking traditional grading and testing What his alternative approach to assessment looks like in practice How assessment can encourage learning rather than simply measure it The role of experimentation, feedback, and adjustment in teaching What other educators might learn from questioning familiar approaches Why Listen You don’t have to teach chemistry—or even teach at all—to consider how the ways we measure success shape the way people learn. This conversation is an invitation to question familiar systems, stay curious about what could work better, and keep the goal of meaningful learning at the center.