Grading for Equity
Grading for Equity is one of the educational frameworks that centers around parity and the full scope of assessment practices. It strives to develop fair grading structures that mirror the learning undertaken by students and their progress at the same time instead of emphasizing the disparities in personal background and technology, thus providing an assured avenue for every student to achieve success.
The key ideas of Grading for Equity involve getting rid of grading biases, concentrating on the actual learning of the student, and applying various methods for measuring the learning of students. For instance, aside from just administering the usual exams, teachers can use projects, assessments from the class and evaluations of one own to augment a learner's overall result on what he/she knows and can do.
Grading for Equity can be practiced by the teachers through the transformation of their grading systems to neuter biases and to reflect the individual progress made by the students. This could include the use of standardized and impartial grading scales, the provision of second chance for assessment, and giving learners the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge by a variety of means. One example could be a teacher's decision to allow pupils the chance of redo of tests or submission of extra projects in which the pupil has to implement his understanding of the topic taught.
The advantages of Grading for Equity primarily consist of fostering a growth mindset, improving student participation, and increasing the total of student achievements. When learning is emphasized rather than compliance, students feel more encouraged to go beyond their limits, inquire, and demand assistance if necessary. For instance, the students who find it difficult to cope with the standard tests might enjoy the opportunity to explain what they have learned through presentations or teamwork.
Stakeholders who have been used to the traditional grading system might be challenged in the shift to Grading for Equity. Other challenges are the lack of professional development, and the difficulty to create a fair and still consistent grading system. Teachers might encounter difficulties from the parents, or the administrators like who would want to use the standard assessments. Hence, the educators who want to use such assessment methods are left with the option to communicate clearly to the stakeholders about the needs and objectives of the new approach.