Khan Academy Ed Talks with Matt Townsley, EdD - Thursday, Feb. 10

TL;DR

In this interview, Dr. Matt Townsley discusses the concept of standards-based grading and its benefits for students and teachers.

Transcript

• Hello, and welcome to Ed Talks with Khan Academy. I'm Kristen DiCerbo, the chief learning officer at Khan Academy and I am excited today to talk to Dr. Matt Townsley, who is a professor and author of "Making Grades Matter." And we'll be talking about all things grading, so if you have questions, please drop them into the chat. I wanna remind you ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🎓 Standards-based grading focuses on communicating students' levels of learning separately from their behaviors.
• 🧑‍🎓 This approach promotes student ownership of learning and encourages growth mindset.
• 👻 Standards-based grading aligns with mastery learning principles, allowing students to progress at their own pace.
• 💦 Gifted students benefit from standards-based grading by eliminating unnecessary work and offering extension activities.
• ⚾ Standards-based grading helps address equity issues in grading practices by removing biases and promoting fairness and accuracy in feedback.
• ⚾ Initial steps towards standards-based grading include prioritizing standards over textbooks, designing assessments aligned to learning goals, and moving away from point-based grading.
• 👨‍🏫 School-wide support and time dedicated to interventions/reteaching are crucial for successful implementation of standards-based grading.
• 👻 Standards-based grading can coexist with traditional grading in a transitional phase, allowing teachers to experiment with new feedback practices.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is standards-based grading?

Standards-based grading is a philosophy and set of practices that aim to communicate students' levels of learning separately from their behaviors, providing more accurate and specific feedback on their progress.

Q: How does standards-based grading benefit students compared to traditional grading?

Standards-based grading helps students understand the specific areas they excel in and those they need to improve in, promoting a deeper understanding of their learning. It also eliminates the focus on earning points and encourages a growth mindset.

Q: Can standards-based grading prepare students for higher education?

While college and university grading practices may differ, standards-based grading still provides specific feedback and allows students to demonstrate their learning. Research suggests that students transitioning from standards-based grading systems can adjust well to the college environment.

Q: How does standards-based grading support gifted students?

Standards-based grading eliminates busywork and allows gifted students to focus on extension activities specific to their areas of strength. It provides more precise feedback on their learning progress, enhancing their educational experience.

Q: How does standards-based grading promote equity in education?

Often, traditional grading practices disproportionately impact historically under-resourced communities. Standards-based grading removes biases linked to behaviors, attendance, or participation and provides fairer and more equitable feedback based solely on student learning.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Dr. Matt Townsley shares his journey of becoming passionate about grading and the shift towards standards-based grading.

• Standards-based grading separates student behaviors from their actual levels of learning, providing more accurate feedback and encouraging student ownership of their learning process.

• This grading approach aligns with mastery learning principles and helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement.