Contributed to the TLCo-op by Alina Holmes, Graduate Research Assistant of the Center for Instructional Innovation and Assessment, 2020.

A lot has changed with online learning. This is requiring many educators to also reconsider grading practices, and how to evaluate students in this new online environment. We all know that grades are supposed to be connected to learning outcomes, but they are not always. Specifications Grading works towards not giving students points for their work, but rather evaluating whether or not they’ve met the learning target. Specs grading, for short, works towards increasing internal student motivation and ensuring that students are creating work with a high level or rigor.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash