There’s a problem with the term “Standards-Based Grading:” it’s too overloaded. The word “standard” means ten different things, and so newcomers to SBG don’t know what it is from the name (e.g. “I have standards too, you prick.”) Even within the community of SBG believers, there’s confusion: do you have to allow remediation under SBG? Is it still SBG if I have deadlines and late penalties?
But changing to standards-based grading can be very simple. Just group grades by knowledge. Don’t say, “you have 95% in projects, 80% on tests, and 85% in homework.” Instead, report that “you’ve earned 95% in graphing lines, 80% in graphing general functions, 85% in composing functions.” It doesn’t have to be philosophical – this is just more information for your students.
josh g.
September 8, 2010 at 9:45 am
I was going to comment, but my own blog has been lonely so I put it there.
http://joshg.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/bare-minimum-sbg/
ps. I hope it sounds positive / constructive – I’m nitpicking but only because I like it!
Tony
September 17, 2010 at 10:31 pm
I’m with you on this – how do we make this concept something that is more concrete in the minds of those who come with so many preconceived notions?
“Group grades by knowledge” gets close – I’m wondering how to describe the concept of your example in a way that gets at the simplicity of how small yet powerful this difference is.
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