July 2020 Slow Chat

July's Topic. Taking a snapshot from the teacher's perspective: Practical tips for getting started with #ungrading.

Practical Guide to Getting Started

Here are the questions which we'll be discussing during the first week of July. (Curious about June? Here are the questions and archive.) We'll focus on one question each day, and then replay all questions on the final day, but or course you should feel free to answer any of the questions and in any order. For upcoming topics, see the Calendar.

Click here for Google Drive Folder with animated versions of all the slides. :-)

QUESTION 1: What are the biggest drawbacks to grading right now that you want to solve or avoid? (both grading of assignments and also final grades)
(for Wednesday, July 1... but feel free to answer anytime with A1)

QUESTION 2: How would removing grades change your instructional approach? What would be easier without grades? What would be harder?
(for Thursday, July 2... but feel free to answer anytime with A2)

QUESTION 3: Do you work within institutional/professional constraints (both assignment-level assessment and final grade assessment)? How would ungrading operate within those constraints?
(for Friday, July 3... but feel free to answer anytime with A3)

QUESTION 4: How do you use feedback in your classes right now? How would that use of feedback change if you did not employ grades?
(for Saturday, July 4... but feel free to answer anytime with A4)

QUESTION 5: Check out @actualham's ACE framework. How can ungrading encourage a value-driven, equitable pedagogy in your courses?
(for Sunday, July 5... but feel free to answer anytime with A5)

QUESTION 6: What are the concrete steps you would need to take to try ungrading (or some grade-less approach) in your fall classes? What would you need to know/consider before starting? Do you have colleagues you can partner with?
(for Monday, July 6... but feel free to answer anytime with A6)

Then on Tuesday, July 7, we'll replay all the questions one more time. :-)