Josh Eyler, an educator passionate about meaningful learning, discusses how to cultivate hope and intrinsic motivation in students. He emphasizes the importance of nurturing curiosity by connecting lessons to students' interests. Eyler also explores significant grading reform, influenced by social media, advocating for equitable practices like labor-based grading. He shares personal reflections on his experiences with caregiving and how they impact his educational philosophy, highlighting the need for systemic change that balances rigor with empathy.
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Quick takeaways
Cultivating curiosity in both parents and educators fosters intrinsic motivation for learning, countering the negative effects of traditional grading systems.
Understanding the historical context of grading practices highlights their shortcomings and emphasizes the urgent need for equitable assessment reform.
Deep dives
Cultivating Curiosity in Education
Cultivating curiosity is essential for both parents and educators to foster a love for learning in children and students. At home, parents can nurture their children's interests by engaging with them about the topics they are passionate about, encouraging exploration and curiosity. In the classroom, educators can invite students to discover personal connections to the materials being taught, allowing them to ask meaningful questions and develop their intrinsic motivation for learning. By focusing on curiosity, both at home and in educational settings, individuals can build a protective layer against the detrimental effects of traditional grading systems.
The Historical Context of Grading
Grading systems, particularly the letter grading system, have a relatively short history, dating back to the late 19th century. Despite being a common practice for over a century, grades have primarily served to rank and categorize students rather than support their learning and growth. Understanding this historical context highlights the inherent shortcomings of current grading practices and the need for reform. The acknowledgment that grading has typically not been about promoting student learning emphasizes the urgency for educators to seek alternative assessment methods that focus on the true educational experience.
Strategies for Grading Reform
To effectively implement grading reform, educators must begin by understanding their core values and how those values align with their grading practices. Engaging with alternative grading models, such as contract grading and standards-based grading, allows educators to reevaluate the effectiveness of their current systems. It is essential to explore different approaches in a gradual manner, experimenting with modifications in single assignments or specific course components before making substantial changes. By adopting a reflective and incremental approach toward grading, educators can begin to create a more supportive and equitable learning environment for their students.
Blueprint for Sustainable Change
Creating lasting change in grading practices requires a thoughtful approach based on transparency and addressing potential opposition. A critical first step is to articulate the 'why' behind grading reform, connecting it to broader issues of inequity and student well-being, which can resonate more deeply with stakeholders. Additionally, anticipating and addressing the varied reasons for resistance to change can foster open dialogue and collaboration among faculty. By applying this blueprint for change, educators can work toward creating sustainable practices that genuinely enhance student learning and promote a healthier educational landscape.
Josh Eyler helps us cultivate hope and action beyond grades on episode 534 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast.
Quotes from the episode
Teachers, instructors, educators at all levels can really work with students to find elements of what we are teaching that those students find individually interesting.
-Josh Eyler
We can help them learn how to ask questions that are meaningful to them, how to really dig in and find ways that the content becomes meaningful to who they are as people.
-Josh Eyler
We’re in another period of significant grading reform right now, fueled, I believe, by mass communication and social media. People are now able to connect in ways that in previous eras of grading reform, they were not able to.
-Josh Eyler