rigor
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Grade Inflation is a Symptom, Not the Disease (Part 8): The Rigged Battle over Rigor
I began this series on grade compression (which is what people who howl about grade inflation are actually worried about), because I was vexed by the doublespeak in last year’s Harvard grade report. This report, high on self-aggrandizement and low on self-awareness, disingenuously claims that grades can support learning for all students and simultaneously sort… Continue reading
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Grade Inflation is a Symptom, Not the Disease (Part 2): The Specter of Grade Compression
In this subseries on the wicked problem of assessment, I am exploring the tensions between supporting the learning of every student and sorting students by levels of distinction and merit. I argued previously that: 1. Although the education system (and broader society) is more invested in sorting students, many teachers (like myself) are more invested… Continue reading
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Student Engagement is Crucial. But Can We Measure It, and Should We Even Try?
I have a colleague who directs our university’s journalism program. She loves attending editorial meetings of the campus newspaper, where the students’ eagerness to find compelling stories and to receive feedback on their writing is palpable. Seeing students this excited to engage the process, to improve their skills, to work toward a collective goal …… Continue reading
Teaching Inquiry 