“I feel more in control of my learning experience:” ungrading as an empowering approach to competency-based gerontological teaching and learning

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ungrading is a constellation of pedagogical practices that seek to recenter the educational experience of learners as individuals by using detailed feedback rather than grades to assess the achievement of learning competencies. Ungrading practices have been employed in multiple disciplines in response to various concerns about traditional grading, including the tendency of grades to signal the end of learning, the ineffectiveness of grades in assessing competencies, and equity concerns. While the use of ungrading in gerontological teaching and learning appears to be largely unknown, it may offer a potentially powerful and innovative way to support students in attaining and demonstrating AGHE’s gerontological competencies. This should be a key concern of all gerontology educators as the main goal is to develop a qualified workforce who can be employed across the aging services sector. A form of ungrading known as grade anarchy was piloted in three master’s level gerontology courses and student and instructor feedback was gathered to assess reactions to the pilots. Students were mostly supportive, reporting that they felt less stressed and more motivated to learn, while some preferred traditional grading as they perceived its structure was clearer. The instructor experienced a steep learning curve followed by the observation that ungrading was freeing for the instructor as well, allowing a more individualized approach to student learning that resulted in greater clarity with regard to learners’ mastery of the selected AGHE competencies and the course learning objectives.