Program Description

The Innovative Grading and Assessment Community of Practice (CoP) aims to bring together instructors who have used or are currently using innovative grading and assessment approaches to achieve two goals:

  1. Work with and learn from colleagues also using innovative grading and assessment approaches in their classes
  2. Share your knowledge with the broader Duke community, becoming champions for innovative grading and assessment at Duke

Innovative Grading and Assessments is a broad term that includes many different approaches. Generally, it includes any technique that rethinks how grades are used in a class and focuses more on learning as an outcome. Some techniques de-emphasize grades, while others involve students more explicitly in the process of determining a grade.

Some non-exhaustive examples of these approaches include:

  • Changes to individual aspects of a class
    • Redesigns of assignments (e.g., allowing flexibility in types of submissions)
    • Alternative feedback methods (e.g., peer feedback, resubmission)
    • Creative approaches to attendance (e.g., flexibility, incentivizing)
  • Changes to a course grading system
    • Mastery-based Grading 
    • Standards-based Grading
    • Specifications Grading
    • Contract Grading
    • Gamification

To apply for this program, complete the Qualtrics form by 5pm ET Tuesday January 21st.

Program Events and Timeline

The Innovative Grading and Assessment CoP will run from February 2025 to November 2025. Important events include:

  • A kickoff meeting on Friday Feb 21st 2025 (time TBD)
  • Regular virtual meetings during the Spring 2025 semester
  • A group work day on Monday May 5th 2025 (time TBD)
  • Regular virtual meetings throughout the summer and early Fall 2025 semester
  • Attendance at the Emerging Pedagogies event in November 2025

Participant Expectations

Participants in this program will be expected to attend and participate meaningfully in all activities listed in the ‘Program Events and Timeline’ section. Additionally, the group, in consultation with the Teaching Innovation Team, will produce:

  • A presentation at our annual Emerging Pedagogies Summit (format to be determined at a later date in consultation with event planners)
  • A creative, multi-media packet capturing your stories of using innovative grading and assessment to share publicly on the LILE website
  • An event to offer more direct support to others in the Duke community on how to use innovative grading and assessments (e.g., consultations, workshop)

Every participant in the CoP will need to make individual contributions to the project, and the group will decide how to split up the work.

Eligibility

We are looking for instructors of any rank, from any discipline, who have previously used or are currently using innovative grading and assessment approaches in their classes. You will be asked to describe the grading and assessment approaches you use in the application form. Participants meeting the program expectations will receive a stipend of $4000. Stipends can only be paid to instructors who have a discretionary account. All others are welcome to apply, but you may not be able to receive a stipend.

Please reach out to learninginnovation@duke.edu if you have any questions.