Robert Talbert discusses the flaws of traditional grading, emphasizing the importance of feedback and growth over labels. He advocates for reattempts without penalty and maintaining dignity in feedback. The podcast explores alternative grading practices to promote authentic learning and student engagement.
Traditional grades impact students' self-worth, highlighting the need for authentic feedback loops.
Grades should offer helpful feedback, affirm dignity, and allow reattempts without penalty for growth.
Deep dives
The Practice of Grading for Growth
Grading for Growth, co-authored by Robert Talbert and David Clark, promotes alternative grading practices that enhance authentic learning and student engagement in higher education. Talbert shares personal experiences like the emotional impact of grading as a student, highlighting the intertwined nature of grades and self-worth. The book explores how traditional grading systems are disconnected from effective feedback loops, leading to student frustration and anxiety. Talbert recommends clear content standards, offering helpful feedback, providing meaningful progress indicators, and allowing reattempts without penalty as essential components of alternative grading.
Combining Creativity and Music: The Bill McClintock YouTube Channel
The Bill McClintock YouTube channel showcases unique music mashups combining heavy metal with 60s and 70s Motown soul, demonstrating remarkable combinatorial creativity. McClintock's ability to blend seemingly disparate genres into cohesive musical pieces challenges traditional norms, offering a refreshing perspective on creativity and innovation in music production.
Unlocking Creative Potential: The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield
The War of Art by Stephen Pressfield delves into overcoming resistance in creative pursuits, particularly writing. Pressfield's exploration of internal obstacles and strategies to navigate through creative blocks provides valuable insights for cultivating a productive and fulfilling creative process. This engaging read empowers individuals to overcome self-doubt, embrace inspiration, and unleash their artistic potential.
Empowering Faculty through Creative Resources
Robert Talbert's insightful perspectives on alternative grading and creative endeavors offer transformative resources for faculty seeking to enhance their teaching practices. Talbert's commitment to fostering authentic learning experiences and promoting innovative grading strategies resonates with educators striving to create engaging and meaningful learning environments. His collaborative work with David Clark and dedication to reimagining traditional grading systems exemplify a progressive approach to teaching and learning.
Robert Talbert shares about the principles of grading for growth on episode 510 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Quotes from the episode
In one shot, she can’t get a B in the class. And I sat there and just watched her sense of self worth and her excitement in the class just decay away right before my eyes.
-Robert Talbert
When you look at grades as we often use them in a traditional setting, they are much of what we do is under the guise of object what we think is objectivity.
-Robert Talbert
The biggest thing that’s broken about grades is that traditional grading is completely disconnected from the notion of a feedback loop.
-Robert Talbert
Give helpful feedback that doesn’t humiliate the student, affirms their basic dignity as a human being, and highlights what went well. Helpful feedback also highlights what could use some work and invites students to collaborate with you to make it better.
-Robert Talbert
Reattempts without penalty, that’s the closing of the feedback loop.
-Robert Talbert
Points used for grades are a judgment call that results in a label.
-Robert Talbert