For this discussion, we engage in a debate that is a hot topic in our schools: the no-zero grading policy. Consider this scenario: Steve submitted an assignment to you that was over a week late. He ap
Week 5 Discussion The No-Zero Grading Policy Debate
[WLO:1] [CLOs: 2-6]
For this discussion, we engage in a debate that is a hot topic in our schools: the no-zero grading policy. Consider this scenario:
Steve submitted an assignment to you that was over a week late. He apologized for the late submission and told you that he had been dealing with some family issues that prevented him from getting his assignment submitted on time. Do you accept the assignment or still give him a zero for submitting it late?
Debate Grouping (by first letter of last name)
For this discussion, your assigned debate group is as follows:
A-L: Proponents of no-zero grading policy: Accept Steve’s work and grade it.
M-Z: Opponents of no-zero grading policy: Do not accept Steve’s work and give him a zero.
Prepare
Prior to beginning work on this assignment,
Read Chapter 11: Grading and Reporting to Students and Parents.
Explore the following web page: What Is a Growth Mindset? (Links to an external site.)
Find an article that supports your assigned position from the Ashford University Library or a reputable and credible website. This a tip sheet Scholarly, Peer-Reviewed, and Other Credible Sources (Links to an external site.) provides guidance for locating an appropriate source.
Reflect
Consider if you have been given a zero before for a missing or late assignment or if you have given a zero to a student.
Write
Clearly state what your assigned position is for this debate.
Due Thursday, Day 3
Based on your assigned position, formulate a defense statement supported by the course text as well as the article you located that includes the following:
Discuss the theory behind the no-zero grading policy and its purpose.
Provide at least three reasons for your position, based on your research. You also want to provide solid examples to support each reason.
Properly cite and reference your sources within your response using APA formatting (Links to an external site.).
Due by Saturday, Day 5
Respond to at least one of your peers who has been assigned a different position from you and has not received a response, and offer a rebuttal. Be sure to provide evidence from the readings or articles to support your opposition. Properly cite and reference your sources within your response using APA formatting (Links to an external site.).
Due by Monday, Day 7
Respond to your original post and provide the following:
Your own opinion of the no-zero grading policy based on the evidence from the research and the responses of your classmates. How would you personally handle Steve’s situation? Did your thinking change after reading your classmates’ viewpoints? Why or why not?
Using the What Is a Growth Mindset? (Links to an external site.) web page as a point of reference, how might a no-zero grading policy help to promote a growth mindset for learners. Explain, and if applicable, share your own experiences as well.
Respond to Peers (Due Monday, Day 7): Post replies to at least two peers by the close date of this discussion. Refer to your peers’ responses to their original post, and consider their viewpoints on the no-zero grading policy, extra credit, and acceptance of late assignments. Provide additional insights to their opinions.
Though two replies are the basic expectation, for deeper engagement and learning, you are encouraged to provide responses to any comments or questions others have given to you. Remember, continuing to engage with peers and the instructor will further the conversation and provide you with opportunities to demonstrate your content expertise, critical thinking, and real-world experiences with this topic.
Weekly Lesson
Week 5
Welcome to Week 5 of EDU645: Assessment for Learning.
Please be sure to review the Week Five homepage for this course to see:
the specific learning outcomes for the week
the schedule overview
the required and recommended resources
the introduction to the week
a listing of the assessments
Next, be sure to read this entire Weekly Lesson including any videos or articles shared.
Introduction
In Week 4, you uncovered the importance and significance of educators using data in their instructional practice. You also had an opportunity to reflect on topics that were still a bit unclear to you where the discussions among your classmates and instructor hopefully provided greater clarity.
For your discussion this week, you will engage in a debate about the No-Zero Grading Policy; a highly controversial topic in education. This week is a light load as you begin compiling your assignments from Weeks 1 through 4 and reviewing your instructor feedback as you begin drafting your final assignment for Week 6.
Week 5 Learning Activities
This section includes additional specific assistance for excelling in the assessments (learning activities) for Week 5 as a supplement to the instructions and grading rubrics. If you have questions about what is expected on any assessment for Week 5, or any other week, contact your instructor before the due date.
End of Course Survey
Your instructor needs YOU! We can only improve if we hear from you. Please complete the end of course survey this week. Watch the short video listed under the week five tab in the course room that tells the importance of completing this survey. Your feedback is taken very seriously and directly impacts the overall quality of the curriculum and instruction you receive in your program of study.
Discussion 1: The No-Zero Grading Policy
For this discussion, you will engage in a debate that is highly controversial in education: The No-Zero Grading Policy. A scenario is provided where you will then be assigned a debate group based on the first letter of your last name. You will again put on your research hat and search for a peer-reviewed article in the Ashford University Library to support your assigned position for the debate with three specific reasons.
Because this discussion is in the form of a debate, there are three distinct times during the week that you must make responses to keep the debate alive. On Thursday, you will submit your initial response based on the assigned position for the debate. Then by Saturday, you will need to find at least one peer who had a different position than you and offer a rebuttal that is supported by the readings or articles. Then on Monday, you will circle back to your original post and share your own opinion of The No-Zero Grading Policy (regardless if your assigned position was your personal view). Consider your own personal experiences that may have influenced your opinions on this policy. It is so important that you adhere to these due dates so that the debate can stay engaging.
Be sure to also respond to at least two of your classmates. Consider jumping in on a debate conversation among your peers and share your own personal views on the no-zero-grading policy, extra credit and acceptance of late assignments.
Week 5 Lesson
The Artful Critique
As an educator, you will constantly be on the giving end of criticism and while we can’t control how the one receiving it will react, we can ensure that it is presented as an “artful critique” which requires a bit of heart. According to Goleman, “an artful critique focuses on what a person has done and can do rather than reading a mark of character into a job poorly done” (1994, p.153). Have you ever been in a situation where a teacher, colleague or boss offered you feedback on your performance in a way that was degrading and unmotivating? An artful critique does not instill fear or humiliation in those who are receiving it and we must remember that the purpose of giving constructive feedback is to only improve performance. One of the most difficult things when grading learner work is finding that balance between positive and constructive feedback when the work submitted by the learner does not show proficiency.
Harry Levinson (as cited in Goleman, 1994), a psychologist and corporate consultant, provides us some guidelines on the art of the critique.
The first piece of advice is to be specific. In any situation that you are giving feedback, be sure to tell the one receiving it exactly what they are doing well, what they are doing poorly and ways to make improvements. It is important as educators that you are transparent in what needs to be changed because without specifics, how do our learners improve?
Then, offer a solution. Provide suggestions on how to make improvements because often you might share some ideas that were never thought of before. This also means guiding and not just telling; for example, model for your learners how they can improve.
Third, when giving the feedback, be present. Most like receiving feedback in a personal and private manner and this also gives the one receiving the feedback opportunities to ask clarifying questions. No one ever likes to receive constructive criticism in public, so be mindful of when and where you are giving it.
Finally, be sensitive. Recognize how you are giving the feedback and how it might impact the one receiving it. Be empathetic so that the criticism supports improvement and not resentment.
So, no matter if you choose to become a school teacher, college professor, military trainer, or corporate trainer, the way you provide feedback to your learners is crucial for their success. It could mean the difference between helping them to develop a growth mindset where one views intelligence as something that grows over time versus a fixed mindset where one views intelligence as fixed; it cannot change. Watch the video on Growth vs. Fixed Mindset to see its potential implications on your learners.
Spencer, J. (2017, March 26). Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset (Links to an external site.). [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU
References
Goleman, D. (1994). Emotional intelligence. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
Spencer, J. (2017, March 26). Growth mindset vs. fixed mindset (Links to an external site.). [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1CHPnZfFmU
Tips for Success
Submitting your papers to Turnitin is something you should utilize for every assignment to avoid unintentional plagiarism. Here is a great module from the Ashford’s Writing Center on plagiarism (Links to an external site.) that will help you learn how to avoid it.
Required Resources
Text
Lefrançois, G. R. (2013). Of learning and assessment. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/
Chapter 11: Grading and Reporting to Students and Parents
Web Page
Teaching Channel. (n.d.). What is a growth mindset? (Links to an external site.) Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/growth-mindset
This web page provides information about a growth mindset and will assist you in The No-Zero Grading Policy Debate discussion.
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