I'm very invested in your Ungrading System, it's really admirable to recognise the impact grading systems have on learning and then actually try to do something about it. Looking forward to the next update!
A very packed post! Some quick thoughts in response: 1. I don’t think you can shift students’ focus on grades over learning. The overall context they’re working with tells them grades are the thing to focus on. Your efforts put a pebble on the scale in the other direction—which is valuable—but can’t, on its own, create the shift you’d like to see. 2. As a student all the way through college, I never learned to learn. The things I was good at came easily and instantly. The things that didn’t come easily I didn’t know how to learn. Enough came easily to make me a “ successful enough” student. But eventually, in order to get where I wanted to go with my education, I needed to learn to learn. In your grading system, learning how to make my 1s into 2s would have been much more valuable to me than getting 2s in the first place. And it would have been much harder for me to accomplish and a more valuable achievement. Not sure what this means for what you’re doing but wanted to share the thought. 3. Stressing originality is overrated. As a consultant working with organizations on their mission, they would often want something unique and original. But it’s really okay if multiple organizations are working with a similar mission. For example, “cure cancer” is a fine mission for multiple organizations. HOW they go about curing cancer will necessarily be different as every organization has its own DNA. So “trying to be original” is wasted energy. It will happen on its own. No need to try. As a nonfiction author I’m aware that I’m not the first person to think my ideas. But I’m the only “me” that has worked to articulate them. And I like to think that for some readers, my particular articulation shows up in a helpful way. If nothing else, there’s value for me in the effort to put ideas into writing.
Dan, thanks for the great reply. Two things. 1. I think you're right about shifting my students' focus. I think there will always be a sustained inertia that demands focus on GPAs. Hopefully I can foster a simultaneous focus on learning. 2. Saying that, "I'm the only 'me' that has worked to articulate them. And I like to think that for some readers, my particular articulation shows up in a helpful way" resonate with me. I think our unique ways of perceiving and relaying information in our specific social circumstances is valuable and special. An idea could be repeated many times, but it's only until a right person says it in a right way that it really gets traction in my life.
I loved your thoughts on originality vs. honesty; I think that creation works best when You have Something to say, not just that you wish to say something. The inherent compulsion of creation is what makes Real Art, whatever the medium. Also, I adored the Lavers poems, especially “The Burden of Humans”. Admiration of the seemingly ordinary makes for the sweetest poems. And I’m happy about your real piano! I’m sure you’ll use it beautifully 😊.
I'm very invested in your Ungrading System, it's really admirable to recognise the impact grading systems have on learning and then actually try to do something about it. Looking forward to the next update!
Thanks, Caitlin! Hopefully these efforts accumulate to something meaningful for my students!
Your doing some good work! Your awesome, sounds like a great teacher to me :D
Thanks, DJ!
A very packed post! Some quick thoughts in response: 1. I don’t think you can shift students’ focus on grades over learning. The overall context they’re working with tells them grades are the thing to focus on. Your efforts put a pebble on the scale in the other direction—which is valuable—but can’t, on its own, create the shift you’d like to see. 2. As a student all the way through college, I never learned to learn. The things I was good at came easily and instantly. The things that didn’t come easily I didn’t know how to learn. Enough came easily to make me a “ successful enough” student. But eventually, in order to get where I wanted to go with my education, I needed to learn to learn. In your grading system, learning how to make my 1s into 2s would have been much more valuable to me than getting 2s in the first place. And it would have been much harder for me to accomplish and a more valuable achievement. Not sure what this means for what you’re doing but wanted to share the thought. 3. Stressing originality is overrated. As a consultant working with organizations on their mission, they would often want something unique and original. But it’s really okay if multiple organizations are working with a similar mission. For example, “cure cancer” is a fine mission for multiple organizations. HOW they go about curing cancer will necessarily be different as every organization has its own DNA. So “trying to be original” is wasted energy. It will happen on its own. No need to try. As a nonfiction author I’m aware that I’m not the first person to think my ideas. But I’m the only “me” that has worked to articulate them. And I like to think that for some readers, my particular articulation shows up in a helpful way. If nothing else, there’s value for me in the effort to put ideas into writing.
Dan, thanks for the great reply. Two things. 1. I think you're right about shifting my students' focus. I think there will always be a sustained inertia that demands focus on GPAs. Hopefully I can foster a simultaneous focus on learning. 2. Saying that, "I'm the only 'me' that has worked to articulate them. And I like to think that for some readers, my particular articulation shows up in a helpful way" resonate with me. I think our unique ways of perceiving and relaying information in our specific social circumstances is valuable and special. An idea could be repeated many times, but it's only until a right person says it in a right way that it really gets traction in my life.
I loved your thoughts on originality vs. honesty; I think that creation works best when You have Something to say, not just that you wish to say something. The inherent compulsion of creation is what makes Real Art, whatever the medium. Also, I adored the Lavers poems, especially “The Burden of Humans”. Admiration of the seemingly ordinary makes for the sweetest poems. And I’m happy about your real piano! I’m sure you’ll use it beautifully 😊.
Well said, Elena. Isn't Lavers great? Check out his whole collection "After Earth" if you're interested.
I will!