A thought provoking article from Alfie Kohn (2011) who has for many years been an against the main-stream voice in education. What's the difference between assessing and measuring? Do schools need to get rid of all grades in order to foster an engagement with deep thinking? Does the absence of grades improve student and teacher relationships? What would happen if grades simply went away? When was the last time you received a grade?
The article contains numerous citations for further reading, and Kohn recently spoke at the SSS (School and Student Services) Financial Aid Conference in Baltimore (which Heather attended), and he stirred up plenty of thoughtful discussion - as he usually does. Even if one does not go 'all-in' with his arguments, the article contains several useful suggestions for how to provide students with meaningful feedback and how to foster a genuine interest in the learning process.
The Case Against Grades
A useful reminder (along with Dweck) that we need to pay careful attention to the language we use when giving students feedback on their work. While I try to be conscious of how my language might foster a "growth mindset" or "prime" students to think about history or learning a certain way, I am also certain that I undermine my own goals (at times) by focusing on the practical realities of daily life at Blair.
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