Techniques for using specifications grading in computer science
Christian Roberson · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2018
Traditional, points-based grading suffers from several limitations. Students spend energy trying to determine how many points they need for a grade instead of focusing on learning. Faculty put extra time into making decisions about how much partial credit student work is worth. Points are difficult to connect to learning outcomes for courses and programs for assessment. This poster presents techniques for a different approach to grading: specifications grading. Specifications grading is a points-free, mastery style of grading that replaces partial credit with quality feedback and revision opportunity. This model provides some advantages over the traditional grading approach. This includes better support for strong academic standards and rigor, an increased focus for students on learning by removing the need to game assignments for points, and a stronger connection between student grades and assessment of course learning outcomes. The poster will provide an overview of specifications grading and its benefits, along with techniques for implementation of specifications grading in a programming course. Additionally, the poster will include student evaluation data from previous offerings of the courses.