STANDARDS BASED GRADING

Your grade in Chemistry class will be computed perhaps a little bit differently than you may be used to. I use a type of grading called Standards Based Grading, where a large portion of your grade will be based on your mastery of the material (and will change if your level of mastery changes). Your gradebook entry will include some normal items, like homework, presentations, labs and cumulative exams, but will also include a number of Chemistry Standards. Chemistry standards represent specific knowledge or skills that I expect you to master over the course of the semester – for example "Write A Balanced Equation," or “Construct a Bohr Model of An Atom.” Whenever you take a quiz or a test, you will get graded on your performance on each specific Standard.

Here's an Angry Birds metaphor....How you have been graded in previous classes:                                How I will grade you in this class:

         

In the old way... A score of 39/63 doesn't tell you what level you didn't do well on (i.e. what chemistry concept you did not understand well). Also, once you play once, even if you are sure you could beat that one level you messed up if you played it again (i.e. that tricky chemistry concept that you totally get now), your score is always stuck.

In the new way... You can see what levels you need to play again to get a full score (i.e. what concepts you need to work on, your weak points), which puts you in control of your learning and help you put your energy into studying where you need it most. Even better, you can play any level again to update your score (i.e. you can take short quizzes that you schedule with me to show that you understand something that you didn't previously). With this grading system, if you didn't understand something the first time, THAT'S OKAY. Use your book, your notes, your classmates, and me to help fix your understanding. Then, show me that you get it now by scheduling a quick 5 minute quiz during office hours, called a reassessment. If you prove that you have an “A” level understanding (or a B, or a C) then your grade in that category can change. I WANT you to fix your understanding, so I am happy to give you incentive by letting you improve your grade by doing so. 

WORKING ON THESE STANDARDS IS THE BEST WAY TO DO WELL IN THE COURSE.

GRADE POLICY

10% Homework and Class Participation NO: Students must be30% Fixed Assessments, Projects, and Labs NO: These assignments have a firm

deadline and retakes are not available60% Class Standards YES: Students are encouraged to reassess

if they have not demonstrated mastery on any given standard

STANDARDS GRADING SCALE

8.0 A Evidence of complete understanding. No errors.7.0 B Evidence of solid understanding. Minor errors are evident6.0 C Evidence of basic or partial understanding. Work is completed independently, although

gaps in understanding are evident5.0 D Evidence of limited understanding (below basic). Work is contains many significant

errors or omits major concepts covered in the standard3.5 F Far below basic: Student has not demonstrated measurable progress on the standard