Effective and efficient grading: tips for assessing student learning

Ludwigsen, Daniel O.

doi:10.1121/2.0000535

“…See the Supporting Information for examples from non-STEM disciplines. Examples of specifications grading systems in STEM courses in peer-reviewed journals and conference papers come from engineering, 6−17 computer science, 18−25 mathematics, 26−32 biological sciences, 26,33−35 physics, 26,36 and chemistry. 2,26,37−44 In the chemistry discipline, our pilot study is the only publication that specifically describes implementing specifications grading in a standalone laboratory course.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…See the Supporting Information for examples from non-STEM disciplines. Examples of specifications grading systems in STEM courses in peer-reviewed journals and conference papers come from engineering, − computer science, − mathematics, − biological sciences, ,− physics, , and chemistry. ,,− In the chemistry discipline, our pilot study is the only publication that specifically describes implementing specifications grading in a standalone laboratory course . To date, most published implementations of specifications grading represent small courses with enrollments of 100 or fewer students, and no examples exist of specifications grading used in courses with enrollments of greater than 1,000 students.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

McKnelly,

Howitz,

Thane

et al. 2023

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“…See the Supporting Information for examples from non-STEM disciplines. Examples of specifications grading systems in STEM courses in peer-reviewed journals and conference papers come from engineering, [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] computer science, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] mathematics, [25][26][27][28][29][30][31] biological sciences, 25,[32][33][34] physics, 25,35 and chemistry. 1,25,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] In the chemistry discipline, our pilot study is the only publication that specifically describes implementing specifications grading in a standalone laboratory course.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

McKnelly

¹

,

Howitz

²

,

Thane

³

et al. 2023

Preprint

1

0

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In our previous work we piloted a specifications grading system in an organic chemistry laboratory course with 37 students. Our current work describes the scale up of that specifications grading system to a course with over 1,000 students. Strategies used for keeping the system manageable and mitigating the time commitment required to do so are described. We found that the time necessary to grade student work and manage the specifications grading implementation of the course was not any greater than for the previous, points-based course, that grade-related interactions were more positive, and that student letter grades increased. Despite the increase in final letter grades, we encountered some resistance to the grading system from students and graduate teaching assistants. Here, we explore their concerns and address the difficulty of alternative grading methods in overcoming habituation to traditional points-based grading systems. Future work is needed to evaluate student and graduate teaching assistant buy-in, to assess potential improvement in student work, and to address questions regarding equity in specifications grading systems.

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“…See the Supporting Information for examples from non-STEM disciplines. Examples of specifications grading systems in STEM courses in peer-reviewed journals and conference papers come from engineering, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] computer science, 18-25 mathematics, [26][27][28][29][30][31][32] biological sciences, 26,[33][34][35] physics, 26,36 and chemistry. 2,26,[37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] In the chemistry discipline, our pilot study is the only publication that specifically describes implementing specifications grading in a 65 standalone laboratory course.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

McKnelly

¹

,

Howitz

²

,

Thane

³

et al. 2023

Preprint

0

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In our previous work we piloted a specifications grading system in an organic chemistry laboratory course with 37 students. Our current work describes the scale up of that specifications grading system to a course with over 1,000 students. Strategies used for keeping the system manageable and mitigating the time commitment required to do so are described. We found that the time necessary to grade student work and manage the specifications grading implementation of the course was not any greater than for the previous, points-based course, that grade-related interactions were more positive, and that student letter grades increased. Despite the increase in final letter grades, we encountered some resistance to the grading system from students and graduate teaching assistants. Here, we explore their concerns and address the difficulty of alternative grading methods in overcoming habituation to traditional points-based grading systems. Future work is needed to evaluate student and graduate teaching assistant buy-in, to assess potential improvement in student work, and to address questions regarding equity in specifications grading systems.

show abstract

Effective and efficient grading: tips for assessing student learning

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

Specifications Grading at Scale: Improved Letter Grades and Grading-Related Interactions in a Course with over 1,000 Students

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