ChatGPT wrote the following on 24 Jan 2023 at approximately 10:40AM:
Ungrading is a growing movement in education that advocates for a shift away from traditional grading systems in favor of more holistic and student-centered approaches to assessment. The basic premise of ungrading is that traditional grading systems, which rely on letters or numbers to indicate a student’s performance, do not accurately reflect a student’s understanding or progress. Instead, ungrading advocates for using a variety of assessment methods such as self-reflection, peer evaluations, and portfolio assessments to evaluate student learning.
One of the main criticisms of traditional grading systems is that they can be overly punitive, encouraging students to focus on getting a good grade rather than on learning and understanding the material. Additionally, traditional grading systems can be divisive, creating a competitive atmosphere where students are pitted against one another. With ungrading, the focus is on learning and growth, rather than on a final grade. Instead of a single letter or number, students receive feedback and guidance on their progress and areas for improvement.
Another benefit of ungrading is that it allows for a more individualized approach to assessment. Students have different learning styles and abilities, and traditional grading systems do not take this into account. With ungrading, students are able to demonstrate their understanding and progress in a way that is meaningful to them, rather than being limited by a one-size-fits-all grading system. This can lead to increased motivation and engagement in the learning process.
While ungrading is not without its challenges, it is clear that it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about and approach assessment in education. By shifting the focus from grades to learning and growth, ungrading has the potential to create a more inclusive and student-centered learning environment.
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ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting take on ungrading, especially since AI presents a potential threat to the grading system. I think ungrading is a very unique approach to grading that I have only ever seen little snippets of when I was in my undergrad. As someone who has often struggled with tests, and feeling like I understood the material better than I was showing with exam scores, I can absolutely see the appeal. With ungrading, it could potentially open more doors for those like me who may or may not have those doors open otherwise. This is similar to President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, which opened doors for tens of thousands of black men by allowing them access to higher education. They are similar because the programs Roosevelt implemented were new and, in some ways, radical. He wanted to bring the U.S. out of the depression and took, what some saw as, extreme ways to do it. Not everyone is going to agree with the ungrading system. It is not perfect, even according to the AI used to write this post. However, as we see in history opening doors for people is the way we usher in new eras, and with AI, when used correctly, we can bust those doors wide open. I do not claim to know how, and right now I do not think anyone can, but ungrading and AI could be two of the next important steps in our society to bring forth a new era of technological advancement and prosperity.
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ReplyDeleteUngrading is a new term that I have just now been introduced to as I have started taking this course. I think that Ungrading is an effective method of grading that professors are utilizing in their courses. It not only takes into account the different learning styles that students may have, but it enables them to be more motivated and eager to learn. I think that the traditional grading system makes students so focused on achieving a certain score that they devalue the importance of learning, so it can become hindering to students’ learning. The idea of Ungrading versus the traditional grading system underlyingly promotes the message of continuity versus change. Sometimes it may be more effective for the greater good if change were to occur. In fact, this principle is heavily demonstrated throughout American history. One prominent example that explores this idea is the implementation of the New Deal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. His incentive in creating the New Deal was to allow the United States to recover while simultaneously saving capitalism. He brought about relief opportunities to include things such as the CCC, which was a public work relief that assisted Americans that fit certain categories. The CCC provided manual labor jobs for men that were 18-25 and single. Overall, The New Deal was a good plan that would help to not only recover America, but help to save capitalism, which would help to change society. This is very similar to how Ungrading is a method that can help to recover and save our education system so that students are effectively learning. Similarly, the government in Charlottesville, Virginia, decided to take down a participation trophy of Robert E. Lee, who was a figure that went against the United States government to support the enslavement of people in the past. Although many were against it for unethical reasons, this decision was for the best because a symbol like the trophy would show honor for someone that was a racist. Removing the trophy was a step in tackling racism, which would improve society. This idea is similar to how the implementation of Ungrading would improve our system of education for the better, rather than utilizing the traditional method of grading which may inhibit a student’s growth.
ReplyDeleteUngrading was fun. In my previous semester, I was introduced to the method of ungrading while taking HIST-1301. Having experienced, how ungrading works, i feel like it gives some form of meaningful values to your subject. At least that's what I felt like. The main reason why instructors use ungrading is that grades can distract students, taking their focus away from learning for the joy of learning. When students know they have to struggle to get a grade, it can demotivate them and make them resent the entire educational process. And I really felt I was learning something useful and less worried about grades. I made some mistakes the first time but the second time, I got the support and feedbacks necessary for me to correct what I was doing wrong. These are the things that separates ungrading from the conventional grading systems. Although, ungrading is not complete with its shortcomings too. With the cheating mindset of Gen Z and development of AI tools like bard, chatGPT which will most definitely progress in the future and start to write literature and history more realistically, I am afraid the whole purpose of ungrading will collapse if ungrading cannot keep up. You see youtube videos, facebook, google, they are advertising to cheat using AI instead of teaching a sense of morality and this is not helping at all. Radical change has always been difficult, but change is inevitable. Had not great personalities like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine etc. decided to fight for American's liberty, there would be no America today. Nevertheless, I applaud the vision of the creators of ungrading and I am very optimistic about ungrading and hopefully it will revolutionize education and our societies.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the course of American history, we have adapted and evolved to a greater sense of purpose rather than continuing to do things the same way simply because “That is the way we’ve always done it.” This class will be my first exposure to ungrading. I like what I have heard about it, and I am excited to experience this refreshing break from the outdated norms of traditional educational assessments. Mount Holyoke College, a private liberal arts college in South Hadley, Mass., is credited with the first use of the letter grading system like the platform commonly used today. Keep in mind that was in 1897 before women had the right to vote, before indoor plumbing. became standard and before child labor laws were instituted. According to the 1900 census, millions of children, ages 10-15, worked full-time jobs instead of going to school. Unbelievably, heroin and other opioids, which were used in cough syrup, were available over the counter in pharmacies across America. Fortunately, we have evolved beyond some of the misguided norms of the past and sought better ways to assess individual and societal growth. Ungrading potentially represents growth in education, replacing older methods of assessment with fresh and thoughtful feedback aimed at increasing motivation and challenging students to think freely and creatively, rather than decades-old classroom group think. Make no mistake; I like an ‘A’ just as much as the next guy, but it has far less value than the insightful feedback of a trusted and experienced educator with expert-level knowledge of the subject.
ReplyDeleteIn many schools the traditional grading system causes students to mainly focuses in receiving their desired grade. With this goal in mind many students don’t take the time to fully process the information they are thought. Instead, students just retain the information they deem necessary for their academic success. Covid-19 pandemic has specifically impacted Gen Z mindset on their academic performance. With classes turning online many students stop paying attention to their lectures. Instead, they started finding ways to finish their assignments without actually putting in work. That’s where the introduction to AI came in handy. Students started to use AI software called Chat GPT, to generate information found online even if its misinformation and biased. That’s where people see traditional grading has benefit since it will come with harsher punishment then ungrading. Ungrading is a new grading system where rather than students worrying about what grade they earned they receive helpful feedback that they are able to help improve their work and better understand the concept. Student might take advantage of this opportunity but with this new grading style students are able to set higher standers for themselves. Without the worry of “getting it wrong” or getting a “bad grade”, it encourages a creative mindset that helps students take a deeper interest in their learning. This is the first time I am being introduced to ungrading and it has definitely taken a weight of my shoulder. This new grading system just seem like wants me to better my understanding and education.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to learn about Ungrading. I had never heard of it until this class began, and I’m excited to try this new method. I feel like this technique could help focus on fully understanding the material instead of just trying to remember important dates, events, or just retaining the information long enough to pass a test. This can also be helpful since everybody has different ways of learning. As mentioned in “Immigrants in Mainstream” diverse perspectives enable people to reframe a difficult problem and turn it into an easy one. Everybody has experienced different situations and therefore can bring different, outside of the box, ideas. But usually were so Another positive would be that it may be harder to cheat. With all the apps, AI, and all the different ways to look for answers it will make it harder to cheat since this is not your traditional way of grading. Even though everything comes with its own challenges, surely this is no different. I’m sure there will be students that will try to take advantage and try to slide by with the bare minimum or maybe even still find ways to cheat, but if used for good instead of evil I think this will be very helpful to a higher percentage of students. This could be the new way of doing things and even though it can be scary or uncomfortable, this is a good sign of growth.
ReplyDeleteUngrading is a completely new term to me, but I have done something similar to it in the past. In the past, immediately at the end of an assignment, feedback was given about what was learned or what an individual found the most interesting, things of that matter. Ungrading appears to be a much more in-depth perspective of the (system??) that I am familiar with. Ungrading allows students to actually learn, I feel that many things are just letter grade based and as long as you receive that grade you are fine, but it leaves the questions you missed to be dismissed and not acknowledged. Even if an individual receives a 91, they still missed something but, in most cases, it is not thoroughly reviewed. Ungrading allows a student to understand where they went wrong and if they misinterpreted a subject rather than seeing it as a red mark on their paper or computer screen you see the logic behind the problem. Feedback is given throughout the process and therefore encourages a growth mindset. Rather than a student being told they are constantly getting it wrong or a bad student they are given a pathos rather than logos approach to the matter. The way that the AI is describing the topic is rather vague. ChatGPT states the overall opinion of ungrading for the mass majority, but it does not state what ungrading is in depth. It is missing the steps taken and leaves the reader to interpret it on their own.
ReplyDeleteThis will be the first time I am introduced to the ungrading system, and I am excited to see the results of using this new system. My experience with the traditional grading system differs based on the classes I am taking. Being a Civil Engineering major, classes focused on the STEM discipline are where I believe a traditional system may be preferred over ungrading. For most people, the number grade serves as an indicator of the information they have mastered and the information they should have invested more time in. The number system encourages me to put as much effort as I can into my studies to achieve the best possible grade. In the blog, students being focused too much on their grade is mentioned as a criticism of the system; however, the amount of effort put into understanding the material is directly proportional to the grade we can achieve. Overall, the main topic at hand is discussing changes to a set system. Change can bring forth new opportunities, as in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. This Supreme Court case reversed the decision made in Plessy v. Fergueson and decided that legally sanctioned racial segregation was unequal and a violation of the 14th Amendment. With the decision made in this Supreme Court case, children of different races are now able to have the same educational opportunities as others. The ruling in Brown v. Board of Education also served as the foundation for the mass civil rights movement for African Americans to help desegregate other areas of society, such as housing, public accommodation, and higher education institutions. In contrast, recent events such as the storming of the U.S. Capitol fuel a growing sentiment that drifts from the democratic government, according to Pippa Norris. People who expressed discontent with the current government system favor a strong leader who does not need to bother with elections, which is equivalent to a dictatorship system. As humans, we ultimately have the instinct of greed, and being given the freedom to express ourselves freely for many years would make it difficult to live under the rule of a dictator. In conclusion, change can bring about new opportunities or discontent, depending on how the general public perceives it.
ReplyDeleteUngrading is interesting to me because I have never heard of it. In the past, I had jobs that asked me to evaluate myself, but this is really something new. It’s that simple, you reply! That will be a challenge for me because I haven’t been writing since my earlier years of college in 2005. I recently came back to college to continue with my degree. Listening to the lecture Thoughts on Ungrading, you point out that I must think and challenge my mind on what I learned. I need to have specific evidence of what I learned and how to apply it to my life. So far, I’ve learned that being a holistic writer is a key to ungrading process. Then I have to info my professor on what grade I ‘ve earned on the assignment based on what I learned. I took history 1301 for summer 1 and I was surprised to learn that a woman Named Clare Barton traveled with the Army of Northen Virginia helped supply item and the wounded soldier in the civil war. The government did not compensate her for the work she provided. Later after the war she helped many families with locating their missing loved ones and cared for the injured soldiers. She also became an advocate for woman suffrage but, as the president of the American National Red Cross. This endorsed the First Geneve Conventions of 1864, which handled the humane treatment of the battlefield casualties of the war. I will be up for the challenge of the work that is in front of me.
ReplyDeleteI hadn’t really heard of Ungrading before this class. My previous teachers did try to format courses so that the grades wouldn’t be the sole focus of the students, but it usually ended up devolving into just that. Another similar practice I’ve experienced is frequent feedback, though that’s usually only given for major writing assignments, and mainly for English classes. From what I understand, Ungrading is more effective for getting students to focus on learning the material because they are actively thinking about it and making connections to their lives, and its holistic nature encourages them to grow as people rather than simply students. Like this blog post mentioned, it takes different learning styles into account, and students are placed in charge of their own education and are forced to be introspective. Adopting this method would also reduce competitivity in schools that is presently due to letter grades determining students’ intelligence. An example of this is, as Dr. Ross-Nazzal stated, students upon receiving their graded assignments often ask, “What did you get?” as opposed to “What did you learn?” While competition can be healthy and lead to improvement, in schools it is common for it to devolve into a mere collection of grades, and students using dishonest means to get them. I am excited to use this method because whatever grade I end up with will be that much more meaningful because there will be a written justification and a wealth of knowledge gained behind every single grade I earn.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first time learning about the concepts of ungrading. Reading through the post one can see the benefits and potential of its transformation to education. The shift away from traditional grading systems, and the embracing of holistic and student-centered assessment proves the fact that grading methods do not give accurate feedback on student understanding or progress.
ReplyDeleteAs a student, over the years of being part of the traditional grading system, one can attest that the traditional grading system is penal and therefore distracts students’ attention from learning towards grading. It has been a tool for negative competition among students, as they fail to understand the concept of healthy competition over selfish graded awards.
Additionally, the criticism of the traditional grade system is factual. The post addresses the system to be punitive, which also shifts student focus from the right approach to learning towards cramming and grade-centered. A lot of students will easily drop a course once they get a grade that differs from their expectations. They fail to understand why, or what they should have done simply because they focus more on grades than learning. However, with upgrading comes a holistic approach that is student-centered, giving students a conducive approach to learning. One which allows the individual to question their thoughts, decision, and reasoning. The brain power allows proper assessment methods. And the focus on self-reflection and peer evaluation constitutes more to healthy learning.
One can understand from this post that traditional grading systems do not give accurate feedback on student understanding or progress. Instead, it leads to unhealthy competition and quit-quick decisions when a student receives an unexpected lower grade. While on the other hand, ungrading allows students to opportunity to properly assess their learning while evaluating their peers.
In my 13 years of study, I only had the opportunity to be taught applying the un-grading system once, in a class on US Political Behavior and Policy. I would say that the un-grading system increased my interest in the topics covered in class given that I knew I could freely discuss and express my ideas on particular issues without feeling pressured to think of a "perfect or correct answer." I agree that the un-grading system can help individuals learn in a variety of ways. This technique accommodates various learning styles and skills, and it improves students' capacity to demonstrate their comprehension and development . Ultimately, the un-grading system motivates and engages students in the learning process. In comparison to the traditional system, I believe this grading system has many flaws. It is highly divisive and does not embrace alternative teaching methods. It forced people to focus on a certain number or letter rather than encouraging them to learn and understand the material. Additionally, I think that the existing grading system fails to help students retain material over time, but instead promotes short-term learning and cramming methods. In some cases, such as science and mathematics subjects, I prefer the traditional grading system. I believe this strategy is best suited to subjects that require more concise answers and skills that need students to apply broad rules to specific problems and provide logical answers. In contrast, I favor the un-grading system for subjects that require students to improve their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The un-grading system has the ability to change the way we think about and approach assessment in educational institutions.
ReplyDeleteTraditional grading systems does not take into account the individual. Students learn different, and faces different circumstances that hinders their education. I am interested in learning more about ungrading. As mentioned in the article “With ungrading, the focus is on learning and growth, rather than on a final grade. Instead of a single letter or number, students receive feedback and guidance on their progress and areas for improvement”. The instructor with ungrading gives the students more ownership of their learning. Students are less afraid to make mistakes on their assignments because they know they will be able to receive proper feedback and have a clearer understanding. According to the blog “One of the main criticisms of traditional grading systems is that they can be overly punitive, encouraging students to focus on getting a good grade rather than on learning and understanding the material”. The number systems gives the student a grade but fails to indicate what the student actually grasp. Ungrading is more student centered and students are able to share ideas and brainstorm while the teacher monitors. In the 1930s through the 1960s open classrooms flourished. “Overtime, however, these experiments in non graded schooling and classrooms withered and disappeared. After the 1960s the number system was put in place. They were put in place mainly so schools can record and share the students performance to one another. Ungrading allows students to focus on the knowledge obtained rather than the grade they received. President Teddy Roosevelt, from “Citizen in a Republic” April 23, 1910 “The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood”
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