Specifications Grading, with Linda Nielson

There’s something wrong with the way we’re grading that isn’t being talked about nearly enough. On today’s show, Dr. Linda Nilson shares about a whole new way of thinking about assessing students’ work and making grades mean more. Podcast Notes Dr. Linda B. Nilson Director of the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation at Clemson University Teaching at Its Best: A Research-Based Resource for College Instructors The Graphic Syllabus and the Outcomes Map: Communicating Your Course Creating Self-Regulated Learners: Strategies to Strengthen Students’ Self-Awareness and Learning Skills Specifications Grading: Restoring rigor, motivating students, and saving faculty time Specifications grading Advocating a new way of grading from University of Pittsburgh University Times The problem with “traditional” grading Academic and Occupational Performance: A Quantitative Synthesis (Samson, Graue, Weinstein & Walberg) .155 correlation meta analysis done by Sampson 2.4% of the variance in career success 2006 study by the American Institutes for Research Fewer than 1/2 of four year college graduates Fewer than 3/4 of two year college graduates Demonstrate literary proficiency Explanation of specifications grading Bundles Virtual tokens Robert Talbert blog Casting out nines How specifications grading came to be Benefits Concerns Recommendations Bonni: PollEverywhere (new features) Linda: Cultivate your courage by trying out things you’re afraid of…