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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark
@dccmath.bsky.social
1.2K followers 90 following 520 posts
Mathematician at GVSU, but all views are my own. Author of Grading for Growth, the book and the blog! Blog: https://gradingforgrowth.com/ Book: https://www.routledge.com/9781642673814 Info: https://sites.google.com/mail.gvsu.edu/clarkdav/
gradingforgrowth.com
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Reposted by David Clark
empittsdonahoe.bsky.social
Emily Pitts Donahoe @empittsdonahoe.bsky.social · 17h
Only one week left to apply for the Center for Grading Reform's Alternative Grading Institute! This two-day, hands-on, virtual experience offers opportunities to connect grading with your values and design an alt grading system for one of your courses. www.centerforgradingreform.org/alternative-...
Alternative Grading Institute
www.centerforgradingreform.org
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 2d
Today on Grading for Growth, a guest post by Jody Langdon on how she uses a (traditional) LMS gradebook to communicate progress in a Specifications Grading setup.
Specifications Grading and the LMS Gradebook
Helping Students Understand Their Course Progress
gradingforgrowth.com
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 3d
Autumn Meadowhawk, enjoying this hot and extremely dry autumn. The critters in my garden are still bringing me joy.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 5d
This beauty, munching on my winter carrots, will apparently become an Eastern Swallowtail.

I did not have the heart to move it. Fewer carrots for me, more for it.
A vividly striped black, yellow, and white caterpillar.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 6d
Today in delightful student comments (seriously).
"3 = 0 (bruh)"
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 9d
Today on Grading for Growth: People sometimes have knee-jerk reactions when they first hear about alternative grading. What can you do?
Knee-jerk reactions
Strong, sudden opinions about alternative grading
gradingforgrowth.com
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 10d
This reminds me that I need to have my students translate "there's someone for everyone" into a properly quantified form. And then think about it reallllllly carefully.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 12d
Must have forgot that the gas game plays with Price is Right rules.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 12d
Tree frog on plastic deck chair. These guys will do ANYTHING to avoid actually living in a tree.
Tiny green tree frog on white plastic.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 16d
Today on Grading for Growth, our guest poster Noel Warford describes his first time using alternative grading -- as a brand new faculty member.
Using collaborative grading as a new professor
Benefits and challenges of moving away from percentage-based grading
gradingforgrowth.com
dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 18d
Something stripey on my New England Asters.
A small flying insect, yellow and black striped with a green head, on a pink flower.
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
I feel like "Students won't do assignments if I don't put points on them" is a whole separate post, maybe two, maybe an entirely new blog...
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
Huh. So... like "why do you care about grades so much?" (Genuinely trying to figure out what the implication is here.)
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
As in "aren't you just giving everyone an A then?" Or do they mean something else?
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
Fighting this is kinda the purpose of the blog!
dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
* There are no redos in the real world.

* I don't want a doctor who had to try a heart bypass 20 times before they got it right (or, I don't want to drive over a bridge from an engineer who had to try 20 times...)

* I had to suffer through it, so should they (or, traditional grades worked for me).
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 21d
Alt-graders: I'm working on a post about off-the-cuff dismissals of alternative grading.

Negative gut-reactions people have when they first hear about it, and how to respond.

What would you include? (My current list is in the next post.)

I'm actually hoping it will be a bit light-hearted...
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 22d
On the flip side, here's today's requirements (from the same agency, different login!):
Create password Your password must include: • at least 14 characters • at least 1 upper case letter • at least 1 lower case letter • at least 1 number • at least 1 special character
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 23d
Would you believe a government agency?
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 23d
Password requirements for a login I had to set up today. It just keeps getting worse the longer you look (yes, EXACTLY 8 characters in length).
Message(s): • Enter a new password that is 8 characters in length • Use letters, numbers or a combination of letters and numbers • Do NOT use spaces or special characters • Passwords are case sensitive • Keep your password in a safe, secure place
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 23d
Today on Grading for Growth: How could we put deliberate practice into... practice?
Can deliberate practice be motivated?
A review of a research paper that studies this question, and what it means for alt-graders
gradingforgrowth.com
Reposted by David Clark
drew-lewis.com
Drew Lewis @drew-lewis.com · 28d
Are you ready to align your grading practices with your values?

Join us December 17–18 for the Alternative Grading Institute (online), which will bring together faculty from across higher education for a two-day, hands-on experience in standards-based, specifications, and collaborative grading.
Alternative Grading Institute
www.centerforgradingreform.org
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 28d
HAVE WE LEARNED NOTHING?!?!
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · 28d
There's lots to dislike about Blackboard, but here's my most petty complaint of the day:

Blackboard literally doesn't allow dates with 4-digit years. You can ONLY enter 2-digit years.
A date text box with "9/17/2025" entered, and an error in red: "Enter a valid date format mm/dd/yy"
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dccmath.bsky.social
David Clark @dccmath.bsky.social · Sep 8
Today on Grading for Growth, a guest post by Jane Wageman: How can you keep track of how students change and grow during the writing process?
Feedback, revisions, and the writing process
Tracking growth across drafts in an undergraduate research course
gradingforgrowth.com