Assignments & Ungrading

UnGrading is a growing trend in higher education that attempts to dismantle the punitive method of assigning percentage points and letter grades and instead focus on learning, feedback, reflection, and growth. For our class this means that all assignments will receive feedback from me and/or your colleagues in class to support your learning. There will be no letter grades or percentage points put on any of you assignments. Even though this sounds strange to not have grades on assignment, there is actually a lot of great research that shows how putting letter grades and percentage points on assignments, texts, exams, etc. actually harms our learning. Take 4 minutes and watch the video below to learn about what the research says on UnGrading. 

So instead of putting letter grades on assignments for the course, you will be evaluated based on rubrics which give the details on what is expected on the assignment.  I will provide feedback to get you to meet all the learning goals of each assignment. 

Use this chart below to understand how the final grades will be calculated based on learning and not on points:

What are we using instead of letter grades or points?

Each assignment you turn in will receive feedback and be given one of the following three marks:

• Completed - This means all aspects of the assignment were met according to the rubric and any comments for revision were incorporated into the final submission.

• In Revision - This means that you turned in a complete assignment, received feedback and comments on how to improve your submission to meet the rubric and receive a complete. You need to incorporate the feedback, revise your assignment, and re-submit it. 

• Missing  - This means I have not received you assignment and can not provide feedback until it is turned in. 

UnGrading On Canvas

Since Canvas was designed with using grades and points, this is how each of the above evaluations will appear in the Canvas Gradebook

• Completed = A checkmark symbol. It meets the requirements and expectations stated for the assignment. For writing experiences, there will also be instructor feedback.

• In Revision = An "X"  The assignment does not yet meet the requirements and expectations stated for the rubric. For most assignments, there will be specific feedback (individual comments) noting what still needs to be done.

• Missing = A (-) symbol means the work has not been read/reviewed by me OR the work hasn't been submitted. For most assignments, there will be specific feedback (individual comments) noting what still needs to be done.

• Week 1 Check In Assignments (Student Survey, Introduction Discussion Post, and Colleague Feedback)

• 10 Weekly "Learning Reflection" Assignments 

• Midterm (Due End of Week 8)

• Conscious Content Creator Video (Due End of Week 13)

• Participation 

• Final Zine Project (Due End of Week 16)

• Drafts of Major Assignments

Final Grades

Because all California Community Colleges still use the traditional grading system and I will still need to submit a letter grade at the end of the course. However, everyone starts off with an A in the course and as long as you receive "Completed" on all your assignments you will receive an A. However if you leave some assignments "In Revision" or "Missing" it will impact what grade you will earn because you have not met all the goals of the course. This course is focused on learning, however if you do not complete assignments or do incorporate feedback to revise you assignments, then you are missing out on learning and growing your skills.