Grades Got You Down?: Exploring Alternative Grading Strategies
CATE Workshops
March 12, 2026
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location
Virtual event
Calendar
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Do you feel like students are more focused on grades rather than learning? Has grading become frustrating and onerous? This interactive 90-minute workshop offers a critical look at how traditional grading can inadvertently reinforce inequities, discourage risk-taking, and value performance over deep learning. Alternative grading strategies can counteract this by offering instructors and students new approaches to learning and assessment that emphasize a growth mindset.
You will explore several alternative grading options, including grading contracts, specifications grading, and ungrading, and examine real-world examples from different disciplines and class sizes. We will also consider barriers to alternative grading, including student buy-in and workload. Through discussion and reflection, instructors will consider how they will incorporate alternative grading practices into their courses to promote the kinds of deep learning and engagement they want from their students.
Whether you're just curious about alternative grading or ready to try something new, this session provides a practical and supportive space to begin reimagining how we assess student learning.
By the end of this workshop, you should be able to:
- Describe the impact of alternative grading approaches on student motivation and learning
- Explain different alternative grading strategies that can be applied across disciplines and different contexts
- Identify and get feedback on one alternative grading strategy to implement in your course
EVENT FORMAT: This workshop will be held online on Zoom.
EVENT LEAD: Crystal Tse, tsecryst@uic.edu
EVENT CO-FACILITATOR: Margaret Gonzalez, mgonza10@uic.edu
Inclusion and Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events as accessible as possible. CATE’s online events are delivered through Zoom, will use Zoom auto-captions, and may include breakout rooms and group discussion. If you have any accessibility questions, requests, or to coordinate accommodations, please contact the CATE team at teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Dec 17, 2025
Date updated
Dec 17, 2025