What a refreshing approach to teaching and grading. You clearly encourage a high level of engagement that can only lead to a deeper understanding of course material, a meaningful transfer of knowledge, and a more satisfying and personalized learning experience for all -- regardless of personal history, daily challenges, or long-term goals.
Thanks for bringing the sociological perspective (I'm a sociologist too!), and thank you so much for the helpful links. Your post was well-timed. I adapted your goal-setting letter (with credit to you) for my research students, asking them to tell me what they wanted to work on, improve, learn, so that I could clarify my assessments of their work accordingly. I have shifted all their writing and thinking to 'complete, incomplete' anyway, which helps them to think a little differently about their work to begin with. But your goal-setting letter info was super helpful!
“ For example, require a reflection paragraph that asks students to outline what they did well and what they struggled with in an assignment.” This example is powerful. If universities can develop students with a durable mindset tuned to understanding the effectiveness of their academic work in success and struggle, they will take charge of learning in a context rich with mentors. Add one part to the paragraph maybe: what you did well, what you struggled with, what you tried to do during the struggle. Great essay! Love the use of Mills sociological imagination as a missing element in assessment.
Thank you for your comments Terry- that is such a great addition to the reflection assignment. Asking students to name what they specifically attempted to do at those moments of struggle will help them with their metacognition even more. I'll be adding that on this semester!
What a refreshing approach to teaching and grading. You clearly encourage a high level of engagement that can only lead to a deeper understanding of course material, a meaningful transfer of knowledge, and a more satisfying and personalized learning experience for all -- regardless of personal history, daily challenges, or long-term goals.
Thanks for bringing the sociological perspective (I'm a sociologist too!), and thank you so much for the helpful links. Your post was well-timed. I adapted your goal-setting letter (with credit to you) for my research students, asking them to tell me what they wanted to work on, improve, learn, so that I could clarify my assessments of their work accordingly. I have shifted all their writing and thinking to 'complete, incomplete' anyway, which helps them to think a little differently about their work to begin with. But your goal-setting letter info was super helpful!
I’m so glad to hear that the post was helpful- and to hear from another sociologist doing this work! Thank you for reading!
“ For example, require a reflection paragraph that asks students to outline what they did well and what they struggled with in an assignment.” This example is powerful. If universities can develop students with a durable mindset tuned to understanding the effectiveness of their academic work in success and struggle, they will take charge of learning in a context rich with mentors. Add one part to the paragraph maybe: what you did well, what you struggled with, what you tried to do during the struggle. Great essay! Love the use of Mills sociological imagination as a missing element in assessment.
Thank you for your comments Terry- that is such a great addition to the reflection assignment. Asking students to name what they specifically attempted to do at those moments of struggle will help them with their metacognition even more. I'll be adding that on this semester!