Benefits and technological challenges of alternative grading schemes
Rob Furrow
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
11-11:45 am
Description
In this session Rob will walk through his pilot attempt to implement specifications grading in a lower division quantitative course (WFC 70: Data Literacy for Wildlife Biologists). Specifications grading is an alternative approach to grading that forgoes the typical adding up of points, with final course letter grades instead based on student completion of a set of objectives/assignments at particular levels of competency. Rob’s version included unlimited final project resubmissions and ways for students to re-demonstrate competency when they earned unsatisfactory homework scores. The goal of this grading scheme was to promote student motivation, provide avenues for continued learning, and reduce overall student grade stress. Anecdotal student feedback suggests that these schemes are motivating and help students focus on learning rather than grades. During this session we will learn steps (and missteps) for using the Canvas LMS to implement alternative grading schemes such as specifications grading, discuss the logic behind and benefits of alternative grading, and have time for participants to reflect on their grading and share stories or concerns about implementing alternative grading.
Link to video [video.ucdavis.edu]
Access presentation slides (PowerPoint)
Access the Zoom chat from the event.
About the Presenter
Rob Furrow is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. He earned a PhD in ecology and evolution from Stanford University in 2014 and taught at Stanford University, San José State University, and several schools for adult education before joining the faculty at UC Davis. Rob now teaches a range of introductory wildlife and quantitative courses, and is interested in how alternative grading schemes can improve student learning and experiences while making the instructor’s life more pleasant as well. He is particularly excited about building student confidence with quantitative material such as statistics and programming. When he’s not teaching, Rob is usually out birding or at home cooking with family and friends.
