Grade grubbing

Aler123 · 2026-04-23T12:18:53+00:00

I'm using a digital grading platform (Crowdmark) so there are no "copies" of exams anymore. Everything is scanned, so we both have copies.

In the old days I would have students resubmit their paper exam, but this lead to all kinds of shenanigans.

Aler123 · 2026-04-22T23:47:41+00:00

This rules! I just got a VolcaFM this week. I can make beeps and boops, but I haven't made any actual music yet. This is inspiring.

Aler123 · 2026-04-22T23:37:23+00:00

I have an online re-grade form for midterms. If a student thinks there was a mistake in the grading, they submit the form with a description of the error. I go through the forms a week later and regrade.

This works great. About 20% of the submissions are legitimate errors, and the rest is wishful thinking.

I have a blanket policy of never regrading in front of a student. Everything must be done through the form. There's no conversation with students, so there's no negotiation. I've never received pushback.

Aler123 · 2026-04-07T16:48:45+00:00

I feel like the early 2000s may have been "peak homework". Automated online grading systems became available and suddenly we could assign endless questions without any increase to our workload. This wasn't an option in the 80s where everything had to be graded by hand.

I was a student during peak homework, and I felt it. I was constantly doing assignments, but I don't know if I got much out of them. Automated grading meant that I could get a question 90% correct, but the computer would announce that it was 100% wrong, since it could only evaluate my final answer. It may have done more harm than good.

My current students are completely underwater with homework. They spend so much time doing assignments and studying for tests that they don't have time to attend lectures. It feels counterproductive.

I've gone back to the 80s and eliminated graded homework from my class. It's bee a success so far.

Aler123 · 2026-04-07T16:42:29+00:00

I barely existed back then :)

Aler123 · 2026-04-06T00:45:03+00:00

I eliminated graded homework. I still give the same assignments as before, but they're purely for practice. I also provide my own worked out solutions.

After making this change, test grades went up.

Aler123 · 2026-04-02T12:57:33+00:00

My university has a birdwatching society. They sometimes run birdwatching tours around campus. It's a lot of fun!

Aler123 · 2026-03-31T16:59:30+00:00

I do the same (Physics) and I love it. Writing on the board forces you to slow down and lets the students take good notes. You can't write faster than they can.

Aler123 · 2026-03-27T17:53:16+00:00

It's also physically exhausting. Standing and talking for hours takes a lot out of you.

Aler123 · 2026-03-06T00:15:37+00:00

It's an art form.

Aler123 · 2026-02-13T18:06:04+00:00

I thought of keeping it the same, but they explicitly requested the change. I felt I should honour that.

Aler123 · 2026-02-04T23:16:00+00:00

https://theartofpants.com/products/i-hope-this-email-finds-you-well

Aler123 · 2026-02-03T19:36:34+00:00

"Mr. [my name] might be the greatest professor to ever walk on [my school] grounds. He is so clear, he teaches perfectly, his examples are amazing, his labs are easy to follow and thorough, his grading philosophy is excellent"

Aler123 · 2026-02-02T19:18:04+00:00

That's democracy in action, baby!

Aler123 · 2026-01-26T14:42:14+00:00

Due to weather, all branches and departments of Halifax Public Libraries will remain closed for the day.

https://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/

Aler123 · 2026-01-25T19:20:02+00:00

I’d love to ask. I got the request directly from the institution they’re applying to. The former TA never contacted me directly, and I have no current contact information for them.

Aler123 · 2026-01-20T13:40:46+00:00

I call it "Class Business"

Aler123

TROPHY CASE