Should Letter Grades Be Abandoned?

Summary

In this video, Dr. Fedor explores the concept of ungrading, a growing educational trend that replaces traditional letter or number grades with qualitative, competency-based feedback. This approach encourages self-assessment, peer evaluation, and personalized comments on students' work rather than just scores. Dr. Fedor highlights that this method may reduce stress and demotivation in students, particularly in disciplines like philosophy and creative fields. By focusing on curiosity and improvement, ungrading aims to foster deeper engagement with the material. Dr. Fedor invites feedback from students on their experiences with ungrading.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ungrading is a system where students receive qualitative feedback instead of traditional letter or number grades.
• 😀 Ungrading encourages students to focus on learning and improvement, rather than stressing over grades.
• 😀 Self-evaluations and peer evaluations are key components of the ungrading approach, offering a more holistic assessment.
• 😀 Ungrading may be more suitable for creative disciplines like philosophy, where subjective evaluations are already common.
• 😀 Some students find traditional grading systems demotivating and stressful, especially when they receive grades without clear feedback.
• 😀 Ungrading aims to provide students with specific feedback on their performance, helping them understand areas for improvement.
• 😀 The primary goal of ungrading is to foster students' curiosity and natural interest in the subject, rather than focusing solely on grades.
• 😀 Traditional grading systems can fail to give students actionable feedback on what they did right or wrong in their work.
• 😀 Dr. Fedor suggests that ungrading can reduce the pressure students feel by offering descriptive feedback instead of just a score.
• 😀 The video encourages viewers to share their opinions on ungrading and whether they've used this method in their own classes.

Q & A

What is the concept of 'ungrading' in education?

Ungrading is an educational approach where students receive qualitative, competency-based feedback rather than traditional letter grades or numerical scores. This method focuses on offering more constructive feedback and emphasizes student learning and improvement.

Why is ungrading becoming more popular?

Ungrading is gaining popularity because it addresses issues like stress and demotivation caused by traditional grading systems. It allows students to focus more on understanding the subject and their own growth rather than stressing over a grade.

What types of feedback are typically given in an ungrading system?

In an ungrading system, students typically receive qualitative feedback, which includes written comments, peer evaluations, and self-assessments. These provide insights into what students did well and areas where they can improve.

Which disciplines might benefit most from ungrading?

Creative disciplines and fields like philosophy, which already tend to offer subjective and qualitative evaluations, are more suited to ungrading. These fields emphasize critical thinking, creativity, and individual expression.

How does ungrading differ from traditional grading systems?

Traditional grading systems assign numerical or letter grades based on student performance, while ungrading focuses on feedback that encourages learning and growth. Ungrading eliminates the pressure of a grade and prioritizes constructive criticism.

How can ungrading improve student motivation?

Ungrading can reduce the stress and anxiety caused by striving for a specific grade. By receiving feedback focused on their learning and progress, students may feel more motivated to engage with the material and improve their skills.

Can ungrading work for every class or discipline?

Ungrading may not work for every class or discipline. It is more suited to subjects that allow for qualitative feedback and may be challenging to implement in highly structured or quantitative subjects that rely on specific assessments.

How does ungrading impact student self-reflection?

Ungrading encourages students to reflect on their own learning through self-evaluation. It allows them to assess their own progress, identify strengths, and focus on areas where they need to improve, fostering deeper self-awareness.

What role does peer evaluation play in ungrading?

Peer evaluation is an integral part of the ungrading system, as it encourages students to provide constructive feedback to one another. This process helps students gain different perspectives and reinforces their understanding of the material.

What are the benefits of replacing letter grades with qualitative feedback?

Qualitative feedback provides clearer insights into what a student has done well and where they can improve. Unlike letter grades, which can be vague and demotivating, qualitative feedback fosters a more personalized and effective learning experience.