This is a phrase that makes chills go down my spine. Typically it means to an instructor that if you don’t assign points to an assignment, then the student will not see value in it. Many pieces of research have shown that if you are motivated externally (i.e. money or grades), you just won’t do as well at a given task (or persist). If you are motivated internally (I want to learn), then you will persist even in the face of resistance, for instance a poor score.

What does this mean? To me, it means we have to shift the focus on grades to a focus on learning. Maybe students will persist in our classes longer if we don’t over-emphasize grades. If we place emphasis on good grades, rather than good learning, then a poor score can become devastating.

How can we shift the focus? I’m not saying grades are bad, but maybe we can help de-empasize them in our students’ minds to help them focus on what is important – learning. We could try to collect some assignments as Formative Assessment. We can give students feedback as to how they did, but don’t assign a grade. “What’s the purpose of that?” a student may ask. What formative assessment allows you to do as an instructor is to gauge how the student is doing and correct them, without penalty. And, you are preparing them for the high-stakes Summative Assessment to come.

Allow the students to practice in a safe environment without penalty. Give them feedback as to how to create better answers. Then, test them after they have had that time to practice. You may have to explain to students what you are trying to accomplish, but I would bet that as long as you have a good reason, students will appreciate the opportunity to practice.