Maddison Valkar

ED8870A
9/25/19
Reflection
Impact/Strategy
In Chapter 9, the authors discussed deriving accurate, fair, and defensible summary
grades. This chapter provided an in-depth understanding of the impact using different practices
to support students who are diverse learners.
First, education generally evaluates effort, ability, work completion, timeliness, and
participation of students. The “system of learning” divides learners along invisible lines of
achievement. Instead of using the status quo methods of evaluation, a student’s self-
assessment to enhance identification of information acquired appears to be rewarding. This
strategy offers immediate feedback without being graded, and allows the student to retake the
test with a higher comfort level.
Secondly, assessing student characteristics as a team, department, grade level, school,
or district, educators generate and have access to an assessment that provides all students with
the same expectations. Using this tool distributes fairness among all students regardless of
stratification; increases accountability if changes in characteristics are necessary for success;
and removes the educators’ responsibility of interpreting the results.
Thirdly, conducting a class discussion about homework when making the change to non-
graded practice work appears to help students expand their knowledge in a relaxed learning
atmosphere. Using insightful questions, the teacher can extract information that will be helpful
in assigning work that is less structured, yet meaningful. This strategy changes the system in
which students learn. Instead of merely teaching a subject, the teacher is replacing a culture
that discriminated against marginal students.
Implementation
From reading this chapter, I am more prepared to modify my grading methods using
research-based techniques to respond to the changing dynamics in the educational system. I
will design assessments and instruction that respond to students with marginal progress and
their method of learning. A method highly benefiting students includes self-tracking feedback,
self-assessments, and goal-setting information. Using this method, students increase their
accountability and responsibility, while becoming more aware of their progress.