Alternative Grading

Mr. Lin shared his experiences as an assistant teaching professor with alternative grading practices that better represent the learning that students achieve over time, producing more equitable outcomes by changing the way we determine final grades. He talked about the potential alternative grading has to empower students by making space for creative student work that might not otherwise thrive in a points-based grading ecosystem. He suggested that grading policies on their own often aren’t enough—at least not in the grade-focused culture at many institutions—so he also shared some of the challenges he's faced and how he works toward better relationships between students, educators, and grades. Note: This recording was edited at the 53:30 mark to reduce static and to remove an extended pause.