Episode 158: Automated Grading vs. Teacher Grading
Sep 24, 2023
auto_awesome
Sarah Hower, an innovative educator focused on grading automation, shares her insights on balancing automated and teacher assessments. She discusses the effectiveness of certain assignments for automated grading while emphasizing the importance of personalized feedback. The conversation highlights how AI, including tools like ChatGPT, can enhance grading accuracy and efficiency. Hower also underscores the need for transparent communication about grading changes to maintain student motivation and engagement in a mastery-based learning environment.
Automating grading allows for quick assessments and efficient classroom management, but lacks the personalized insights necessary for deeper understanding.
Mastery-based learning shifts the focus from traditional grading to meaningful feedback and student engagement, enhancing ownership of their learning.
Deep dives
Embracing Mastery-Based Learning
The transition to mastery-based learning has significantly transformed the teaching approach for many educators. By implementing a mastery check format, teachers can focus more on providing valuable feedback rather than being bogged down by grading less meaningful tasks like homework. For example, educators have found that by grading fewer traditional assignments, they can concentrate on key assessments that truly reflect student understanding, leading to deeper conversations about learning. This shift not only benefits the teacher’s workload but also enhances student engagement by making feedback more personalized and relevant.
Balancing Automation and Teacher Insight
Automation in grading offers a streamlined approach, allowing for quick assessments and feedback, which is especially useful in managing classroom activities effectively. Educators utilize tools such as Google Forms for self-graded warm-ups, enabling students to see their understanding in real time without waiting for manual grading. However, a key limitation is the lack of personalized insight on students' thought processes; teachers need to maintain a balance between automated checks and meaningful, in-depth evaluation of student skills. This blending of automation with personalized assessments helps educators track mastery while ensuring they still engage in valuable interactions with students.
The Importance of Feedback and Student Communication
Effective feedback is essential in fostering student growth and engagement, with educators emphasizing the need for timely and constructive responses. By integrating self-assessment tools, teachers empower students to take ownership of their learning, encouraging them to communicate their progress and areas for improvement to their parents effectively. Additionally, personalized feedback sessions, where educators sit with students to review performance, create an environment where learning becomes a collaborative experience. This approach not only facilitates understanding but also nurtures a culture of continuous improvement, as students feel more invested in their learning journey.
Monte is joined by Sarah Hower to discuss her approach to automating grading and the types of assignments that are best graded automatically versus those that are best graded by the teacher.
Take our free online course, or sign up for our mentorship program to receive personalized guidance from a Modern Classrooms mentor as you implement your own modern classroom!