Assessment can be one of the more challenging aspects of teaching and learning, especially as we reflect on elements like assignment prompts and activities, rubrics, and student feedback best practices. This semester, Salem State’s Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI) is hosting "Grading for Growth," a series of virtual workshops focused on assessment, equity, and innovation. The series is inspired by David Clark and Robert Talbert's Grading For Growth: A Guide to Alternative Grading Practices that Promote Authentic Learning and Student Engagement in Higher Education (Routledge, 2023), but it is primarily draws on the creative and innovative approaches to assessment that CTI has been learning about from faculty colleagues.
In addition to providing some examples of best practices and approaches to assessment being taken up elsewhere, CTI has centered each "Grading For Growth" session on perspectives shared by SSU instructors. Join one of our workshops to hear some of your peers discuss their views on assessment. We've also designed each session to include time for attendees to share their own views and workshop relevant course materials with colleagues.
CTI knows that assessment can be a large and challenging topic. If you'd like additional support for your own courses or you'd appreciate some suggestions as you look ahead to summer and fall semesters, please think about contacting CTI for a consultation to talk more!
Grading for Growth: Assessing Assignments After AI
- Thursday, January 8, 11:00am - 12:30pm, via Zoom
- Facilitated by Jim McGrath, PhD, instructional designer
This session focuses on recent trends in assessment that acknowledge the impact of AI on assignment design. Attendees will reflect on and discuss emerging best practices that emphasize how to introduce, model, and assess assignments in ways that align with our course objectives and resonate with students.
Grading For Growth: Looking Back and Looking Ahead
- Tuesday, March 31, 11:00am - 12:30pm, via Zoom
- Facilitated by Jim McGrath, PhD, instructional designer; featuring faculty presenters Alex Eden, PhD (Biology) and Susan Pilaud (English)
This session focuses on strategies of self-reflection and revision as we assess the value and impact of course assessment activities. We'll hear from SSU colleagues who have recently redesigned the role that assessment has played in specific course contexts.
Grading For Growth: Feedback that Reverberates with Students
- Wednesday, April 8, 12:00pm - 1:30pm, via Zoom
- Facilitated by Jim McGrath, PhD, instructional designer; featuring faculty presenters Reva Kasman, PhD (Mathematics) and Monica Leisey, PhD (Social Work)
This session focuses on the role course feedback plays in assessment, inviting attendees to reflect on when, how, and why they have modeled, shared, and encouraged feedback with students.
Grading For Growth: Providing Helpful Revision Comments on Student Writing
- Monday, April 13, 10:00am - 11:00am, via Zoom
- Co-Facilitated by The Mary G. Walsh Writing Center
This session focuses on crafting comments on student writing, including when to comment, how to comment, and what kinds of comments are productive in helping students revise and strengthen their writing.