Yes, there will be additional presenters for this sessionCommittee: Group III: Records and Academic Services
First Learning Outcome: Understand processes by which anonymous grades can be implemented.
Second Learning Outcome: Understand processes for applying curves to student grades.
Third Learning Outcome: Consider implications for equity and access in an anonymously graded class.
Core Competency: Problem Solving
Proficiency: Records & Academic Services Proficiencies
Intended Audience: General Audience / Intended for Everyone
This session explores the process by which one law school implements anonymous grading & mandatory curves. The presenter has significant Registrar experience, with much of that experience preceding the current law school role. This session will explore the different challenges in the grading process from two very different professional school settings, as well as discussing the pros/cons of anonymous grading and mandatory curves from both the law school & non-law school perspective. Participants will be encouraged to discuss how implementing similar policies in non-law schools might help to mitigate grade inflation and reduce bias in grading.
Some of the pros/cons include:
Pros:
-Eliminates the potential for bias or perceived bias in the grading process.
-Reduces the pressure on faculty when they need to give a low grade to a poor performing student who may have extenuating circumstances, as it allows University processes to manage those circumstances instead of relying on faculty.
-Helps to reduce grade inflation, in that faculty may be more apt to give an earned grade if they do not attribute a particular student to that grade.
Cons:
-Creates a lot of work for a Registrar’s Office to manage to maintain anonymity.
-Need processes to allow faculty to check in with poorer performing students without compromising anonymity for the final grade.
In addition to the theoretical implications for blind grading, we also hope to allow ample time at the end of the session to discuss both the challenges/opportunities it creates, as well as share ideas for how other schools manage some of the details.
Presenter(s):
Sarah Sweetman University of Denver
NNLSO: Anonymous Grading & Mandatory Curves: A Burdensome Blind Spot for Law Schools Or A Means Towards Equity & More Clarity?
Category
NNLSO
Description
This session explores the process by which one law school implements anonymous grading & mandatory curves. This session will explore the different challenges in the grading process from two very different professional school settings, as well as discussing the pros/cons of anonymous grading and mandatory curves from both the law school & non-law school perspective. All will discuss how implementing similar policies in non-law schools might help to mitigate grade inflation and reduce bias in grading.
Submission ID: 18842
Room E141: 4/4/2022, 01:15 PM - 02:00 PM