While grades do have their place and are important on transcripts, what do they actually tell us about a student’s understanding of the subject matter? Traditional grading methods can have a tendency toward reward or punishment and the “one and done” model of testing does not always encourage learning. I will present two alternative models of assessment: Competency Based Grading and Narrative Assessment. These forms of assessment provide students with task-involving feedback, opportunities to resubmit assignments multiple times and retake exams until skill is achieved and, hopefully, goals beyond the grade.
