Dr. Robert Talbert
At the end of the semester, my post-grading relief is often accompanied by a sense of unease. I wonder, do my grades reflect how my students have progressed? Are my grades fair? Am I accurately assessing key outcomes? What can I change to feel more confident about my grading system? Is there a better way?
To help answer those questions and more, CIE is pleased to welcome Robert Talbert to our January PD this Wednesday, January 7. Dr. Talbert, a leading practitioner of alternative grading, will discuss strategies that help instructors to “prioritize student growth and align better with how humans learn.” He will share methods to implement now without requiring a massive amount of time or energy. A few changes at the beginning of the semester can make a big difference in how students and instructors view assessment for the next 15 weeks.
Dr. Talbert was one of our presenters at last January’s professional development session. This year, we are bringing him back to run the entire 3-hour event, featuring a presentation and a hands-on workshop. You’ll leave with strategies to better align assignments, active learning strategies, and assessments to your learning goals.
The session starts at 8:30 AM with breakfast in the Osterlin Building, first floor. We will stay in the downstairs space for the workshop, which wraps up at noon. You’re on your own for lunch. Adjunct instructors are welcome and will receive a stipend for attending.
CIE has distributed copies of the Grading for Growth book by Talbert and David Clark, also from GVSU, in preparation for the session. If you haven’t had time to read the whole book, review Chapter 3, “A Framework for Alternative Grading,” to get the most out of Wednesday’s session. Copies of the book are available from Tracy Welch in the Experiential Learning Institute office in the Innovation Center.
Both Talbert and Clark are math professors, but their work applies across the academy. Talbert and Clark also share alternative grading strategies from instructors in all disciplines in the Grading for Growth blog on Substack.
We are excited to welcome Dr. Talbert and learn new ways to make assessments more meaningful and relevant. See you soon!