1. Guiding Principles of Grading in this class
•Your grade should be determined by how well
you understand physics, and nothing else.
•Homework is practice, it should not affect your
grade.
•It doesn’t matter when you learn it, so long as
you learn it.
•Assessments must guide you on how to improve.
•Assessments need to provide incentive for you
to do the work required to improve.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

2. Student A
Understanding of Physics
Student B
End of Semester
Time
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

3. Ideas are categorized in 2 ways in this class
A (Core)
These skills are fundamental to this physics class and future
study of science. In order to pass (70), you must achieve
proficiency in all of them.
B (Intermediate)
These concepts represent more advanced skills that indicate
a deeper understanding of physics. In order to achieve a grade
of A (90), you must achieve proficiency in all of them.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

4. What’s an assessment?
An assessment is a written assignment designed to measure
your understanding of physics concepts.
•You will have an assessment every friday. They will range
in length from 10 minutes to a full class period. This week’s
assessment will be 10 minutes.
•You will not get a number grade on the assessment (eg 85,
90). Instead you will get a list of concepts and a rating of
your understanding of the concepts that were assessed.
•Any concept we have covered previously is fair game for
assessment.
Lots of chances to demonstrate improved understanding
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

5. How I classify your understanding
2 (Mastery/Proficiency) You have proven to me you understand this idea
• you have solved the problem correctly with no mathematical errors.
• you have units on every number, and written numbers to an appropriate
precision.
• it is clear from your work that you have an understanding of this idea.
1 (Developing) You haven’t shown full understanding yet, but there are
elements here that are on the right track
•You may have a mathematical error or have forgotten units somewhere.
•I think you need to do a little bit more to show you’ve mastered this idea
0 (Beginning) Your work does not show understanding of the concept
Most recent assessment score = your current understanding
2’s are required to show proficency
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

6. Student-initiated assessments
As you work in this course, you will undoubtedly find your
uderstanding improve. When this happens, you can apply to assess
your understanding again, outside of class.
•Students must apply to assess by Tuesday at 5pm. Assessments are
given on Wednesdays during backwork.
•You can apply to assess up to 5 concepts in one sitting.
•Your scores on this assessment replace older scores.
•If you don’t show understanding of a concept, your score can go
down, but you can always try again.
•In order to assess you must correct your old problem and do extra
practice.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

7. Ok, how do I get above a 90?
Capstones
The deepest levels of physics understanding, those that correspond to grades of ‘A’,
cannot be assessed with a single question or one step problem. In order to show this
mastery you will be asked to complete small projects, called capstones. Capstones
must do the following: Show synthesis of multiple concepts and models in
unfamiliar situations. A capstone requires you to use more than one idea to solve a
problem, and it isn’t just a rehashing of work you’ve already done.
•Show initiative.
•Are open ended.
•Are public.
•Involve significant revision.
Each capstone can count for up to 3 points above 90.
If objectives based grade is <90, Capstones can count for a maximum 1 point each.
One capstone represents a couple of hours worth of focused work, spread out over weeks.
There are capstones to get you started in the back of every unit, but you should not limit
yourself to these ideas. You could rap.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

8. Seriously, you could rap
google “LHC rap” for more
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

9. Prepare for this question at the end of each quarter:
Based on the scores you’ve earned on
each of the learning standards so far,
tell me what you think your overall grade
in this class should be. Do you agree with
this assessment of your understanding?
Explain, with EVIDENCE.
You’ll do post game analysis of every
assessment on Monday.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

10. •“Homework is practice, it should not affect your grade.”
What? No Homework?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011

11. Feedback ≠ Grading
Wednesday, August 24, 2011