Presentation Abstract

Faculty's Name: Z Walker-Goncalves, Ph.D.

Co-registrant Names:

Type of Presentation: Faculty Research Lightning Round

Presentation Title: "White Lightning"

Abstract:

This presentation reports initial finding from the longitudinal study exploring student perceptions of equity-based grading, EBG, adapted from Asao Inoue’s labor-based contract and antiracist assessment ecology of care (2019). EBG names the whiteness of Standard Academic English, SAE, and acknowledges assessing student writing against SAE harms many students’ self-efficacy resulting in less learning and arguably lower retention and graduation rates. EBG values all Englishes equally and explores the utility of writers adapting SAE as one of many, not the only “correct” English. EBG rewards labor, process, self-assessment, and reflection, instead of correctness, inviting negotiation of assessment processes with students. Student perspectives of EBG contracts (AY 2022-2023) were collected through student reflections throughout the semester and an end-of-course survey regarding student experience and sense of self-efficacy. Based on the results of this data, the EBG contract was revised for AY 2023-2024 Fall semester and revised again for Spring. The revisions explicitly link the course learning outcomes to self-assessment and revision of incomplete assignments. Further, the survey and assignments specifically address equity as a concept and engages students in “Arguing for the Grade” they earn based on the evidence collected on and off Canvas as well as their own particular situations.

Return To Schedule