Using mastery-based grading to facilitate learning

A Mastery Learning Approach to Engineering Homework Assignments

“…This system was also implemented with the intention of making assessment more formative, though the differences in perceptions between in class exams and out of class homework may make a difference for students. Though the data on student learning is limited in these studies, they did indicate that students reported giving more attention to instructor feedback [9] and that the mastery system was more "fair" [10], showing promise for the methods and echoing similar results found in this study.…”

“…Finally, though it is less common than the previously discussed methods, some engineering educators have implemented policies that allow students to retake in class exams where new scores replace old scores [9], [10]. This system was also implemented with the intention of making assessment more formative, though the differences in perceptions between in class exams and out of class homework may make a difference for students.…”

Best Practices for Using Standards-based Grading in Engineering Courses

“…Standards-based grading requires that faculty make course objectives explicit to students in order to monitor their achievement and allowing them the space to fail early and improve 16 . As a result, standards-based grading provides clear and direct feedback in order to improve student learning 17 . Students can regularly conduct self-assessment in regards to learning real-world skills, which has the potential to provide for increased student motivation.…”

Work in Progress: Aligning and Assessing Learning Objectives for a Biomedical Engineering Course Sequence Using Standards-based Grading within a Learning Management System

“…Advantages of this technique include real-time assessment of progress towards relevant skills, shifting students towards focusing on the learning rather than on earning a grade, and providing a means for program assessment. 1,2 This technique has been implemented extensively in K-12, but we are just now beginning to assess its use in engineering in higher education. Recent work by Carberry, et al investigated the implementation of SBG by ten instructors at six institutions, work that has uncovered best practices associated with SBG which will be applied in our research study as described in the methods section below.…”