9 - 3 Year Checklist for Implementing Standards-Based Grading
Feb 10, 2025
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Discover a practical three-year roadmap for implementing standards-based grading tailored to your educational context. Learn about the crucial difference between proficiency and frequency scales in assessments. Explore fascinating cultural contrasts from their travels, emphasizing collaboration and learning among educators. Delve into the urgency needed in restructuring grading practices while encouraging patience and inclusivity among staff. Get insights on balancing academic and behavioral assessments for a fairer evaluation system.
The podcast emphasizes a structured three-year checklist for implementing standards-based grading, tailored to each institution's unique culture.
Professional development and the establishment of a guiding coalition are crucial in fostering urgency and support for grading reforms.
Engaging parents in the grading process and leveraging technology are essential for effective communication and successful implementation of changes.
Deep dives
Busy Yet Inspiring Travels
The speakers share their busy schedules filled with travel and professional development (PD) events, highlighting the importance of their work with educators focused on transforming assessment and grading practices. Unlike mere hectic routines, these experiences present opportunities to collaborate with passionate teachers and administrators eager to adapt their grading systems. Upcoming events include various training sessions in different cities, emphasizing a commitment to improving assessments and learning standards. This practical engagement fosters a supportive network of professionals determined to enhance educational practices.
Contrasting Experiences in Abu Dhabi and Bangkok
Their travels also take them to Abu Dhabi and Bangkok, where they draw distinct cultural contrasts between the two cities. Abu Dhabi is depicted as a city of 'old money,' rich in culture, slower-paced, and sophisticated museums, while Dubai represents 'new money' focusing on modernity and grandeur. On the flip side, Bangkok astonishes with its opulence juxtaposed against vibrant street life and bustling markets, showcasing the duality of experiences one can encounter. These international trips build perspective on the nuances of different cultures, especially regarding common misconceptions about the Middle East.
Implementing Standards-Based Grading
The discussion delves into a three-year checklist for successfully implementing standards-based grading within educational institutions. It emphasizes the importance of establishing a sense of urgency for change and supporting it with professional development while forming a guiding coalition to steer the process. Year one focuses on creating a sense of urgency for change alongside discussion on assessment practices and the overall need for standardized grading frameworks. The coalition's groundwork leads to essential conversations around creating a clear purpose for grading that aligns with the institution's educational goals.
Building a Cohesive Coalition for Change
In the second year, attention shifts to refining processes by establishing proficiency scales and determining academic and behavioral reporting priorities. This phase involves in-depth discussions and collaborative decision-making, where teachers can contribute to outlining essential standards for reporting while also defining key behavioral expectations. These discussions encourage reflection on teaching effectiveness and the purpose behind various educational practices. Realizing the significance of collective input, the guiding coalition can create a supportive environment that fosters engagement and ownership among faculty.
Emphasizing Parent Engagement and Technology Integration
Year three marks an essential phase by implementing changes to reporting categories and actively engaging parents in the process of shifting assessment and grading paradigms. Parent engagement becomes paramount, allowing parents to participate in focus groups to ensure clarity and understanding of the changes being made. Furthermore, the use of technology to support these changes cannot be overstated, with careful planning needed to integrate new grading systems into existing platforms. This systematic approach ensures seamless transitions while addressing the academic and behavioral needs of students effectively.
In this episode, Tom and Nat share a three-year checklist for implementing standards-based grading. Of course, every checklist must be checked" against the culture and nuances of each specific situation. but generally, this checklist will provide a road map that can at least initiate the journey; you can adjust from there
