I once subscribed to Education Week and still receive regular updates on the topic du jour. One of these is what has been called "equitable grading"* which, as is so common, appears to be a new name for an old practice. As I scanned the article, a specific approach caught my eye, one which I used extensively and one which I recommend to this day.
This is of course allowing students multiple rewrites to improve their internal grades. Now before anyone shouts, "grade inflation", let me explain and also comment on how I differ from the practice as described in the article.
As for the philosophical underpinning, I want to encourage and to reward effort and allowing rewrites does this. I believe in summative assessment and allowing rewrites does this. I am also convinced that with appropriate guidance (aka teacher comments), reflection and application, practisc does lead towards perfection and allowing rewrites does this.
However, I did impose deadlines such as four weeks from the original submission date or the end of the grading period.
Where I differ from what appears to be described in the article is firstly that my approach allowing rewrites only applies to writing and not to right/wrong, true /false or multiple-choice activities which are best for checking and not for skills development. Although to be fair, I do not include Content Checking in any grading, but only use it as a tool to know if students are ready for the real work.
Secondly, I do not allow rewrites in formal evaluations such as tests or examinations which I believe must be common to all with the same requirements, expectations and restrictions. These are one and done, aka as high stakes, but only a part of the final grade and not the major or entirety. I have written elsewhere on evaluation or measurement and assessment or Teaching & Learning.
Why this approach has been labelled as "equitable" is a question for which I do not have an answer. However, as an effective student growth and skills development strategy, allowing rewrites is what they call a "highly effective practice".
** Please leave comments and queries below.**
*Further Reading
Here’s What Teachers Really Think About Equitable Grading Policies
Nothing new under the sun - now it's equitable grading
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