Deeper Learning 2023

Challenging the grading practices of teachers can lead to defensiveness and an almost complete unwillingness to interrogate our practices. Whether it’s including zeros for missing work, deducting points for late work, giving points for compliance, or assessing formative work for points, our grading practices communicate our values but often don’t communicate what is most important: a student’s learning. Join us as we talk about our journey introducing Competency Based Grading, a practice that puts learning in the hands of students and has the potential to be far more equitable than traditional grading practices. Participants will consider what values from their school and classrooms might serve as competencies, will propose exemplary assignments and reflection questions to make those competencies clear in the eyes of students, and will also evaluate how to effectively visualize those competencies as an effective alternative to standard A-F grades in the eyes of parents and post-high-school institutions.