Grading doesn’t have to be a source of stress—for you or your students. Traditional grading systems can create anxiety, discourage growth, and make feedback feel like a final judgment rather than a learning opportunity. But what if grading could be reimagined as a tool for continuous improvement? By blending AI-driven feedback with growth-focused assessment strategies, educators can shift the focus from perfection to progress, helping students engage more deeply in their learning.

In this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, Kimberly Chappell, EdD, provides practical strategies for implementing blended grading and AI feedback tools to create a more supportive and effective assessment process. You’ll explore how to combine traditional grading with ungrading principles, design assessments that encourage student improvement, and use AI to provide timely, meaningful feedback. Whether you teach in-person or online, you’ll walk away with actionable techniques to reduce grading stress, enhance student engagement, and foster a growth mindset in your classroom.

It’s time to move beyond outdated grading systems and embrace assessment that truly supports learning. Gain the insights, tools, and confidence to transform grading into a powerful driver of student success!

LEARNING GOALS 

After viewing this Magna 20-Minute Mentor, participants will be able to:  

• Identify key principles of growth-focused assessment and their impact on student learning
• Compare traditional, ungrading, and blended grading approaches to evaluate their effectiveness
• Implement AI feedback tools to enhance student engagement and improvement
• Design assessments that promote continuous learning and reduce student anxiety
• Apply strategies for providing constructive, actionable feedback using AI and instructor input
• Develop grading policies that align with a growth mindset and support long-term student development

TOPICS COVERED  

• The role of growth mindset in student learning and assessment
• Blended grading: Combining traditional and ungrading approaches
• AI feedback tools: enhancing student improvement and engagement
• Designing growth-focused assessments with low-stakes opportunities
• Strategies for providing meaningful and actionable feedback
• Implementing peer and self-assessment for deeper learning
• Best practices for balancing AI-generated and instructor-led feedback