Day 102 (of 188) Learning without Grading
Yes it is possible to motivate learning without letter grades, percentages, checkmarks, Xs etc. And yes, students will still do work and will still learn.
I’m becoming more open about my transition over the past ten years of not using checkmarks Xs etc and instead relying on portfolio-review styled assessment (when I needed letter grades & even more now that we are an ePortfolio Learning Community) with a focus on descriptive feedback. As a mentor once said: “this shit works” (and quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment in the only time any of us actually heard her utter a curse word!)
Today I received some reinforcement on this topic: a student (after being part of a few conversations with his classroom teacher and music-specialty teacher) took on a personal challenge – something that would normally fit more into “geniushour” or “wonder time” – but instead just ‘enhancing his learning asynchronously to the school day’…..he created a drum kit.
Not for marks.
Not for a letter grade.
But for himself and for his own learning. Very powerful moment in this lifelong learners journey!
Can’t wait to add some percussion beats into his eportfolio!
For him to show his learning and doing in a very personal way.
Super proud moment!
