Establish a No-Grades Classroom Because Feedback Is Just Better
Grades have been an ubiquitous part of the educational system, but there is a growing body of research that suggests that they are ineffective and even harmful. In this article, we will explore the ineffectiveness of grades and discuss how to start a no grades classroom using feedback based assessment.
The Ineffectiveness and Harmful Effects of Grades
All students ever talk about is the grade they received. Teachers almost never hear students saying how much they enjoyed the content they learned, but their relief that they were able to remember the content long enough in order to get a good grade. Because grading is often based on a narrow range of factors such as test scores and homework assignments, students tend to focus on those specific areas and neglect other important aspects of learning. When students are so invested and worried about getting a good grade, they lose sight of actually learning the material.
Grades are ineffective because they are arbitrary and subjective. What one teacher considers to be an A may be considered a B by another teacher. This can lead to students feeling like they are not being fairly evaluated. Students may prioritize one teacher's class over another because they are a particularly hard grader. This can lead to students disliking a subject and a teacher because of grading.
Grades can create a competitive and stressful environment in the classroom. Students may feel like they need to constantly compete with each other in order to get good grades. This can lead to anxiety, stress, and burnout. When students become too stressed or burned out, the want to learn extremely diminishes.
In addition to being ineffective, grades can also have harmful effects on students. For example, grades can lead to students cheating and plagiarizing. They can also lead to students becoming discouraged and giving up on learning. In some extreme cases, grades can even lead to students developing eating disorders or other mental health problems because of worrying and stress.
Starting a No-Grades Classroom
Starting a no grades classroom can be a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. By eliminating grades, you can create a more supportive and collaborative learning environment. You can also help students focus on the joy of learning rather than the fear of getting a bad grade.
Here are some tips for starting a no grades classroom:
- Focus on learning, not grades. Make sure that your students understand that the goal of school is to learn, not to get good grades.
- Provide frequent feedback. Let your students know how they are doing along the way. This will help them stay motivated and on track.
- Create a positive learning environment. Make sure that your classroom is a place where students feel safe and supported.
Read Hacking Assessment Second Edition from the world's expert on a no-grades classroom for even more tips and tricks to establishing the ideal learning environment.
Feedback-based assessment is an essential part of any no-grades classroom. By providing students with regular feedback, teachers can help them track their progress, identify areas where they need to improve, and set goals for themselves. This can lead to deeper learning and more meaningful engagement in the classroom. These are some helpful tips to make feedback effective:
- Make feedback specific and actionable. Don't just tell students that they did a good job or that they need to improve. Instead, give them specific feedback that they can use to improve their work. For example, instead of saying "Your essay was good," you could say "I really liked the way you used evidence to support your claims. You could improve your essay by adding more details to your examples." Giving specific feedback lets students know where they need to focus their learning.
- Provide feedback in a timely manner. The sooner you provide feedback to students, the more likely they are to use it to improve their work. Try to provide feedback as soon as possible after students have completed an assignment or activity. The sooner students receive actionable feedback the sooner you as the teacher can see a revised assignment and evaluate learning.
- Get students involved in the feedback process. Students can learn a lot by giving and receiving feedback. Encourage students to give each other feedback on their work and to ask for feedback from you. This can help them develop their own critical thinking skills and become more self-reflective learners.
Mastering feedback based assessment is a key part of an effective no-grades classroom. Establish your own no-grades classroom today.
