Don’t Panic about ChatGPT—Students Still Can Focus on the Process
In an article for The Atlantic, Daniel Herman says ChatGPT is “The End of High-School English.” If you’re not familiar, ChatGPT is artificial intelligence that can write—and write well.
A student can ask ChatGPT to compose what...
Foster Resilient Learners and Assess the Process, Not the Outcome
By Elizabeth Jorgensen
Do you remember your GPA? Or a specific score you received in elementary, middle, high school, or college?
Are you recalling that time you failed a chemistry test? Or when you cheated your way to a better score?
Or maybe that time you were benched from the...
What Does it Mean to Be 'Educated' in the 21st Century?
By Starr Sackstein
"Education": 12 years of compulsory primary and secondary education that covers a breadth of knowledge spanning history, literature, assorted math, language, physical education, assorted physical and living sciences, and other electives.
Upon successful completion of high...
A Concerningly Empty Grade Book
By Tyler Rablin
I’ve heard it called an epidemic.
I’m talking about the amount of missing work at the secondary level. It truly defined the beginning of the school year. Teachers returned to the classroom excited to be back with students, try out new ideas, and engage in the type of...
Why I Was Done with Late Work
By Elizabeth Jorgensen
I wish I had realized this sooner:
Students complete late work not because they care about the authenticity of the assignment but because they want to move their grade up a letter.
Early in my teaching career, I accepted all late work. At the end of each semester, I...
What Does a Grade Mean? Hacking Assessment Shifts the Conversation
By Starr Sackstein
When it comes time to set goals with students, inevitably, there are several whose highest aspiration is to achieve an A in all of their classes because this is what the system and their parents have impressed upon them for years.
They don’t have a plan except to do all...
The Secret to Creating Good Student Learning Habits
By Elizabeth Jorgensen
Can I tell you a secret? I hate grades.
I don’t like judging my students or ranking them. I don’t like placing value on them or on their work. And I’ve found that if I place judgment on progress, students stop trying.
While my colleagues...
5 Hacks to Improve Questions and Answers in Your Classroom
Asking questions is one of the best ways to get students thinking about a topic. However, not all questions are created equal. Some questions are simply factual recitations or closed questions that can be easily answered with a yes or no.
To increase student engagement and understanding, ask...
Ramp up Formative Assessment to Improve Achievement
The time has come for educators to change the way they think about assessment. The old-fashioned "sage on a stage" approach is no longer viable in today's interconnected world.
To create deep, meaningful learning outcomes, teachers need to rethink how they use assessments and what types of tasks...
Tossing Out Traditional Grades: Gaining Buy-In and Open Communication
When making a big change like throwing out grades, many people will not “get it” and may push back in ways that impede the progress of students.
Schools and colleges have supported the traditional grading system for far too long, making it challenging to suggest this seemingly...
