Eclectic Technology
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Eclectic Technology
Tech tools that assist all students to be independent learners & teachers to become better teachers
Curated by Beth Dichter
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What if Badges Replaced Grades? - Online Universities.com

What if Badges Replaced Grades? - Online Universities.com | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it

This post begins "The common understanding is that if students work hard in school they earn "A’s." For many however, there is a much straighter route to that "A." Some of the most creative learners are able to figure out what the course expectations are and do the minimum to meet them, and get the grade they want."

What happens to students that are bored with the curriculum? What would happen if we moved away from grades, and replaced them with badges? It turns out that there is evidence from a July 2012 report called "Do Schools Challenge Our Students?" 

This report states "Many schools are not challenging students and large percentages of students report that their work is 'too easy.'" 

The post also provides some statistical information. 

The final portion looks at badges vs grades. It notes that switching from "traditional letter grades or percentage grades to badges signifying achievement could open up many possibilities for a more fine-grained tracking of student progress, address some of the criticisms regarding schools not teaching concrete skills, and motivate students to learn" (with additional information also included). 
As the Common Core becomes a driving force behind public education it will be interesting to see how the issue of badges vs grades play out. 

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Why It's Time to Eliminate Class Schedules - Education - GOOD

Why It's Time to Eliminate Class Schedules - Education - GOOD | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it
Students would have the freedom to learn by working on real projects—and that might ease their obsession with grades.
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Educational Leadership:Feedback for Learning:Seven Keys to Effective Feedback

Educational Leadership:Feedback for Learning:Seven Keys to Effective Feedback | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it

"Advice, evaluation, grades—none of these provide the descriptive information that students need to reach their goals. What is true feedback—and how can it improve learning?"

According to Grant Wiggins, feedback "is information about how we are doing in our efforts to reach a goal." After providing this definition and a number of examples the reader will see that two types of feedback have been shown. He uses this information to show that the type of feedback provided is critical and then proceeds to give "feedback essentials" with a description and information on each essential. These include: goal-referenced, tangible and transparent, actionable, user-friendly, timely, ongoing, and consistent. Additional information is also provided as well as a look at Feedback vs. Advice and Feedback vs. Evaluation and Grades. With the new school year starting this article will give you much to think about when it comes to providing feedback for your students.

Lisl Trowbridge's curator insight, October 15, 2014 1:23 PM

Wiggins provides 7 key elements of feedback.

Tony Palmeri's curator insight, October 4, 2015 7:27 PM

Feedback and advice are not synonymous! 

 

Great suggestions on providing effective feedback. Giving feedback that is actionable is important when providing instructional supervision and support. 

Erin Ryan's curator insight, October 19, 2015 8:15 PM

Feedback is information given to help us understand how we are doing when working to achieve a goal. Feedback should be goal-referenced meaning the information we provide gives the person information as to whether they are on track. It should be tangible and transparent, actionable, user-friendly, timely, ongoing and consistent. Specific examples of what was right and what needs work are very important to the receiver. As administrators, we need to be continuously providing our teachers feedback both formally and informally through meetings (face to face), discussions, emails.