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Student Reflections on Learning as the Basis for Course Grades

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

Biomedical Engineering Division: Supporting and Evaluating Student Learning in BioE/BME Courses

Page Count

14

DOI

10.18260/1-2--40458

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/40458

Download Count

440

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Paper Authors

biography

Emily Dosmar Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

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Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

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biography

Julia Williams Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

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Julia M. Williams joined the faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in 1992, then assumed duties as Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment in 2005. From 2016-19, she served as Interim Dean of Cross-Cutting Programs and Emerging Opportunities. In this role, she supported the work of faculty who create multi-disciplinary learning opportunities for Rose-Hulman students. Williams’ publications on assessment, engineering and professional communication, and tablet PCs have appeared in the Journal of Engineering Education and IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, among others. She has been awarded grants from Microsoft, HP, the Engineering Communication Foundation, the Kern Family Foundation, and National Science Foundation. Currently she supports the work of the Revolutionizing Engineering Departments (NSF RED) grant recipients. She has received numerous awards including the 2015 Schlesinger Award (IEEE Professional Communication Society) and 2010 Sterling Olmsted Award (ASEE Liberal Education Division).

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Abstract

This paper examines the impact of an ungrading approach to classroom assessments on students’ perception of their learning experience in two freshman level courses. We discuss the interviews conducted at mid-term and end of term with our students in order to determine course grades and promote self-reflection and metacognition. The interview process was central to how we adopted ungrading (Blum 2020) as an assessment method for our courses and was the primary tool for determining course grades. All students involved were first year STEM students enrolled in either Intro to MATLAB programming (n=36) or First year composition (n=37). Ten (10) students were enrolled in both courses. Early findings from this approach found that students expressed an improved sense of agency and independence when it came to their course work and in the MATLAB course and used language that suggested the foundation for life-long learning. The grade conferences provided an opportunity for student-teacher calibration in terms of course expectations and self-reflection among the students. While it is still a developing field, the ungrading approach provides an alternative to the traditional classroom that allows for student agency and increased involvement in the learning process while decentralizing authority. The power shift away from the instructor impresses upon the student their responsibility for taking control of their own learning.

Dosmar, E., & Williams, J. (2022, August), Student Reflections on Learning as the Basis for Course Grades Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40458

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