Assess THAT with Tom & Nat! (Assessment, Feedback, Grading, and Learning) 23 - Trust the Teacher: Why Percentages Fail and Professional Judgment Prevails
Nov 17, 2025
The hosts dive into the myth that percentage grades ensure fairness in education. They reveal how averaging can obscure true student growth and penalize early mistakes. With insights from research, they argue that professional judgment is essential for effective assessment. The conversation covers the pitfalls of digital gradebooks and the importance of clear communication with parents. Ultimately, it's a call to replace rigid calculations with thoughtful interpretations to support authentic learning.
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Percentages Create A False Precision
- Percentage grades create an illusion of precision while masking meaningful learning patterns.
- Tom Schimmer and Natalie Vardabasso show decimals often measure noise, not real differences in learning.
Two Students, One Average
- They compare Student A (60, 60, 100) with Student B (73, 73, 73) to show identical averages hide different learning stories.
- The numerical mean of 73.3 disguises growth versus plateauing outcomes.
Numbers Hide Teacher Decisions
- Objectivity is a myth because every percentage rests on teacher decisions about tasks and scoring.
- Natalie argues numbers hide dozens of judgment calls like question design, scaffolds, and point allocation.