10 Participation grades
How did you decide on an approach to participation? What guidelines did/would you prepare for TAs who will have to assign participation grades?
ES: Because the course was asynchronous, the drop-in group consultations were scattered throughout the week during times when other students may have classes. As there were no tutorials in this class, I restricted participation to one reflection per unit for a total of two reflections required for the total participation grade for the semester. These reflections could respond to anything in that week’s course content, but I always offered a question at the end of class that students could answer. I have always found that students who were shy or had anxiety about participating appreciate this option, and students who do not have these issues appreciate reflections as an opportunity to improve on their writing, receive feedback before major assignments, and work out/think through difficult ideas from class or texts.
EG: I also opted for reflections: ten times throughout the term (with one floating freebie) students submitted a “Weekly Update” with three repeat questions: a major lecture takeaway, a connection to lecture materials, and something they learned through tutorial discussions. The grading scheme was a completion model:
- 0/2 = no submission
- 1/2 = incomplete
- 1.5/2 = complete and on topic
- 2/2 = especially strong thinking and/or examples
In the past as a tutorial leader, I’ve used the first tutorial to vote on a participation grading scheme for the group (with options like lecture reflection submissions, end-of-tutorial questions, etc.). Whatever the majority decides, I always keep those options available for students with accommodations or other considerations, who meet with me to discuss options.
During remote learning, I also sent students who participated in lecture a little email thanking them for their contributions, particularly in light of remote learning. I received lovely notes back in every case, so I think it was appreciated!