Grading and Assessment

Pedro Rico
Lois Oestreich
04/21/2018
Philosophy on Grading and Assessment
As we embark on this journey towards knowledge we must find tools on how to gauge

our students, especially to understand how they are faring with the subject matter. There are

several methods that have been lined out for us to use during our classroom assessments. These

methods consist of formative and summative assessments. These forms of assessment allow the

instructor to gauge student retention and understanding of the subject material that is being

covered in the course. These categories are not fixed to one set of standards, instructors can be

creative when using these assessments. For example, the most common assessments are pop

quizzes and or midterm/final test.

I plan to follow these approaches but in a creative way so that I can peak the curiosity of

my students in hopes that they will engage more in the class. Which brings me up to formative

assessments, the sort of assessment that I want to be practicing is constant engagement from

students so that it fosters confidence and critical thinking among my students. A lot of what I’ll

be doing is in the realm of social sciences and I need my students to not be afraid of speaking

and thinking. I would like to have student-led discussions, I will also do my best in helping them

formulate ideas and arguments. As for the Summative assessment, I’ve been thinking a lot more

about how to foster my student's creativity, so imagine them doing a final project of whatever

medium they would like to use to express their final thoughts out to the class. I would like to

encourage technology and arts during this final project.

Grading is another interesting aspect of assessing students ability, there seems to be a

trend that is encouraging the use of rubrics. I believe rubrics are helpful not just for the students

but for the instructor as well. As an instructor it allows you to think about what you are looking
Grading and Assessment

for from your students, your expectations, and what you hope they learn from this

assignment/project. As for students, it helps them also see what is crucially need to be

understood from the assignment/project, in the end, it also demands accountability from both

participants.

Essentially, I want my assessments and grading maxim to be one that fosters the

motivation to learn, to be innovative and creative. If I do become an instructor I’ll be raising

dreamers who can truly change the world.