Toward Generative Assessment

Grading often emphasizes critique in ways that inspire fear and disengagement. Through generative assessment we aim to build relationships with our students, fostering intellectual development and enthusiasm for learning.

In this workshop, we explore opportunities to provide feedback to students that generate curiosity and establish a culture of dialogue and trust. We also reflect on the tensions between the ideals of a collaborative learning environment and the reality of adjunct labor. We’re proposing generative grading strategies as a means to challenge surveillance, punishment, and competition in the classroom.

This workshop took place via Zoom as an online, synchronous workshop in Fall 2023. The workshop and materials were developed by Molly Bauer, Kristi Riley and Oriana Mejías Martínez.

Materials

All materials on this page and in the linked google folder are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC-BY-SA) 4.0 International Public License.

This folder contains outreach materials, workshop plans, slides and generative feedback matrix.

Materials Folder: Toward Generative Assessment

Workshop Agenda

12:00-12:10 | Welcome

  • Getting Started
  • Introductions: Name, program, pronouns

12:10 – 12:25 | Activity: Feelings about Assessment 

    • Word clouds (Slido)
  • What feelings or emotions do you experience while receiving feedback on your work?
  • What feelings or emotions do you experience about giving feedback to students?
  • Debriefing on the generated word clouds

12:25 – 12:40 | Introduction to Generative Assessment

  • Workshop Goals
  • Motivations
  • Core Principles
  • Generative Assessment & Adjuncting

12:40 – 12:50 | Activity: Grading & Feedback Check-in 

  • Jamboard
  • Debriefing our positionality towards feedback

12:50 – 1:00 | What Makes Feedback Generative? Part I

  • How Generative Assessment Works
  • Grading vs. Generative feedback: How do practices influence outcomes?
  • Exploring Abolition Pedagogy

1:00 – 1:10 | Activity: Generative Feedback Matrix

  • Collective brainstorm on how to use in your teaching practices
  • Group discussion of the matrix

1:10 – 1:20 | What Makes Feedback Generative? – Part II

  • Generative Assessment is about Building
  • Generative Assessment Centers Student Potential
  • Generative Assessment Requires Flexibility
  • Structuring Relief

1:20 – 1:30 | Recommendations and Q&A