The Principles of Grading for Growth

Robert Talbert shares about the principles of grading for growth on episode 510 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast. Quotes from the episode <img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-18412" src="https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png" alt="Points used for grades are a judgment call that results in a label. " width="930" height="620" srcset="https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:930/h:620/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 930w, https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:300/h:200/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 300w, https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:768/h:512/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 768w, https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:600/h:400/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 600w, https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:360/h:240/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 360w, https://images.coachingforleaders.com/cb:ztCJ~31fd5/w:930/h:620/q:mauto/f:best/ig:avif/dpr:2/https://teachinginhighered.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tihe510-6.png 2x" sizes="(max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px" /> In one shot, she can&#8217;t get a B in the class. And I sat there and just watched her sense of self worth and her excitement in the class just decay away right before my eyes. -Robert Talbert When you look at grades as we often use them in a traditional setting, they are much of what we do is under the guise of object what we think is objectivity. -Robert Talbert The biggest thing that&#8217;s broken about grades is that traditional grading is completely disconnected from the notion of a feedback loop. -Robert Talbert Give helpful feedback that doesn&#8217;t humiliate the student, affirms their basic dignity as a human being, and highlights what went well. Helpful feedback also highlights what could use some work and invites students to collaborate with you to make it better. -Robert Talbert Reattempts without penalty, that&#8217;s the closing of the feedback loop. -Robert Talbert Points used for grades are a judgment call that results in a label. -Robert Talbert Resources Grading for Growth: A Guide to Alternative Grading Practices that Promote Authentic Learning and Student Engagement in Higher Education, by David Clark &#38; Robert Talbert Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most (Third Edition), Douglas Stone &#38; Sheila Heen Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, by Donna Hicks Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, by Donna Hicks The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, by Annie Murphy Paul Robert Talbert’s Sabbatical in Industry with Steelcase The 12-week plan for building courses, by Robert Talbert