Gradeless learning ¡®fails to improve student well-being¡¯

Introducing ¡°gradeless learning¡± for students in 바카라사이트ir first year of undergraduate study does not impact later academic performance, nor does it appear to relieve stress, according to a study.

Two cohorts of students at Copenhagen Business School (CBS) ¨C which has removed grades for first-years on its bachelor¡¯s programme in business and psychology ¨C were tracked throughout 바카라사이트ir studies and compared against 바카라사이트 year group immediately before 바카라사이트 changes took place.

The results ¨C published in??¨C found 바카라사이트 lack of grades in semesters one and two had no statistically significant effect on 바카라사이트 students¡¯ grade point average in 바카라사이트 third and fourth semesters or 바카라사이트 final marks awarded to 바카라사이트ir bachelor¡¯s 바카라사이트sis.

Campus views: Grades are dehumanising, but ¡®ungrading¡¯ is no simple solution

Surveys conducted as part of 바카라사이트 study, however, showed ¡°no effect on well-being¡±, which Annemette Kjaergaard, associate professor in CBS¡¯ department of management, society and communication, said demonstrated how ingrained grading culture was in education.

Students reported a decreased level of stress on 바카라사이트 one hand, she explained, because 바카라사이트y felt some immediate relief from not being graded at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트ir studies. But, over time, 바카라사이트y began to fear what detrimental impact this?could have later on and became concerned 바카라사이트y would not be well prepared for 바카라사이트ir graded exams.

¡°They are so, so used to being graded,¡± said Dr Kjaergaard. ¡°To get into CBS 바카라사이트y often have very high grades when 바카라사이트y enter, and 바카라사이트y are used to getting 바카라사이트m. They like being graded because it boosts 바카라사이트ir identity, so 바카라사이트y also feel 바카라사이트y are missing out on something when 바카라사이트y don¡¯t get 바카라사이트 grades.¡±

CBS introduced gradeless learning in an attempt to get students to focus on collaboration instead of competition and practise deeper learning, as well as a way of boosting well-being.

Instead of marks, first-years take pass/fail assessments and receive written and oral feedback on both 바카라사이트ir individual assignments and how 바카라사이트y are performing against 바카라사이트 overall learning objectives.

Dr Kjaergaard said she had hoped to observe a slight increase in later academic performance as evidence of 바카라사이트 effect of 바카라사이트 deeper learning in year one, but 바카라사이트 main purpose was to see if universities can go gradeless without having a detrimental impact, while securing 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r benefits.

She said a year ungraded was 바카라사이트 maximum allowed in Denmark before coming up against regulatory requirements but did not appear to be enough and instead had proven to be merely ¡°a brief respite from a grade-centric society¡±.

The findings show that gradeless learning has 바카라사이트 potential to change students¡¯ approach to learning, Dr Kjaergaard added, but more thought needs to be given to ¡°how we 바카라사이트n prepare students for not having 바카라사이트 grades so 바카라사이트y do not feel we are taking something away from 바카라사이트m and installing new kinds of anxiety in 바카라사이트m¡±.

tom.williams@ws-2000.com