Matt Deseno is the founder of multiple award winning marketing businesses ranging from a attraction marketing to AI appointment setting to customer user experience. When he’s not working on the businesses he teaches marketing at Pepperdine University and he also teaches other marketing agency owners how they created a software company to triple the profitability for the agency. Our Sponsors: * Check out Kinsta: https://kinsta.com * Check out Mint Mobile: https://mintmobile.com/tmf * Check out Moorings: https://moorings.com * Check out Trust & Will: https://trustandwill.com/TRAVIS * Check out Warby Parker: https://warbyparker.com/travis Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy…
This is the podcast of Grow Beyond Grades. Each episode we speak to educators who are transforming teaching and learning by grading less. Tune in and learn with us!
This is the podcast of Grow Beyond Grades. Each episode we speak to educators who are transforming teaching and learning by grading less. Tune in and learn with us!
Mike Rutherford is the founder of gotLearning , an EdTech company that revolutionizes learning conversations between teachers and students while using generative AI and Natural Language Processing to analyze large amounts of student learning data. Mike’s passion for education and technology stems from a diverse career as a teacher, technology director, publishing executive, and entrepreneur. Mike's experience spans K-12 education, including international teaching in Bangkok. gotLearning's newest tool, LearningPulse , recently earned a National Science Foundation grant. Mike also teaches one class of middle school English Language Arts three times a week, ensuring his work remains grounded in real-world classroom needs. Resources Introducing gotFeedback What is Learning Evidence Analysis? Capturing Student Learning As It Happens (blog post for GBG)…
Angela Stockman is an instructor in the Department of Education at Daemen University in Amherst, New York. The author of several books on multiliteracy instruction, she is regularly invited to lead curriculum and assessment design work in K-12 schools, where she has also facilitated the shift to standards based grading and reporting. A former public school teacher, Angela spent fifteen years in the classroom before becoming an independent professional learning facilitator. Resources angelastockman.com…
Dr. Kelsie Reed is a nationally certified school psychologist serving elementary and middle schools in Prince George's County Public Schools, Maryland. She is the co-author of Hacking Deficit Thinking, a book that outlines eight practical reframes for fostering strength-based schools. As the founder of the Strength-Based Collective, Dr. Reed provides educators and parents with practical tools and resources to cultivate positive, strength-focused environments for all students. Her work centers on dismantling deficit-based narratives, particularly for students from historically marginalized communities. Dr. Reed is also a strong advocate for school discipline reform, neurodiversity-affirming special education practices, and addressing the unique needs of multiracial students. Resources Hacking Deficit Thinking by Byron McClure and Kelsie Reed: https://a.co/d/6B3xG5Q Strength-Based Collective website: https://www.strengthbasedcollective.com Instagram: /bestrengthbased Music licensed through podcastmusic.com Luminosity by Austin Filingo (Atomica Music)…
Our guest on the Grow Beyond Grades podcast is Akil Bello, an expert in educational access with over 30 years of experience. Akil began his career as a test proctor in 1990 and has since held roles from CEO to consultant, working to improve outcomes for underserved students. As the founding partner of Bell Curves, Akil focused on helping underrepresented students succeed in high-stakes testing. After selling his company, he became Director of Equity and Access at a major test prep firm, helping schools and organizations navigate standardized testing challenges. Currently, Akil is the Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest, where he advocates for more equitable and responsible testing practices. Resources Akil’s website: akilbello.com Articles by Akil Bello: How Test Publishers Are Poised To Profit From Pandemic “Learning Loss” The Challenge of Succeeding as a Black Student in America Why The First Varsity Blues Trial Really Matters…
Paul Emerich France is a National Board Certified Teacher, instructional coach, keynote speaker, and adjunct professor with over a decade of experience in the classroom, teaching grades transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. He is the author of Reclaiming Personalized Learning: A Pedagogy for Restoring Equity and Humanity in Our Classrooms and Make Teaching Sustainable with ASCD. His work is featured in Edutopia, EdSurge, ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and Learning Forward’s The Learning Professional. Recently, Paul has partnered with SXSW EDU, Jefferson County Public Schools, ASCD, National Board, and Northwestern University. Topics include: Paul’s journey to discovering the imperative of making teaching more sustainable The six shifts identified in Paul’s Sustainable Teaching Project, along with examples of how they can be implemented in classes Why personalization is not the same as individualization How “low-floor/high-ceiling” learning activities leverage universal design principles to embed pathways for learners of all abilities Resources Personalized Learning Should Be Sustainable (blog post) The Sustainable Teaching Project ( website , Instagram , Twitter ) Six Mindset Shifts to Make Teaching Sustainable (ASCD)…
Carissa McCray is a member of Research, Advocacy, Collaboration, and Empowerment Mentoring program, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the American Educational Research Association. She has presented across the United States on topics ranging from implementing social-emotional strategies in the classroom to culturally responsive teaching techniques through the lens of critical race theory. Her ongoing scholarship and practitioner-based work are driven by creating equitable learning opportunities through the inclusion of multicultural literature, media, and curricula. Topics include: How an equitable, inclusive, culturally competent classroom is a departure from the status quo Why an equitable, inclusive education is important in our global society What role assessment plays in fostering an equitable learning environment How we can use data to better serve our students Why the “story” told by standardized testing data misses the mark How deemphasizing grades can align with the goals of equitable instruction Why we should assess students holistically, realizing that “everything is assessment” Resources Everything is Assessment (TG2 blog post) Equitable Instruction, Empowered Students: A Teacher’s Guide to Inclusive and Culturally Competent Classrooms (book by Dr. Carissa McCray) Mirrors and windows: Using the five senses and more to plan culturally responsive instruction (interview for the Yes and Know podcast) Five things we need to stop saying about our students (interview for the Leading Equity podcast) Multicultural Literature as Critical Literature: Redefine the Trajectory for Students of Color (chapter in the anthology Research Anthology on Racial Equity, Identity, and Privilege )…
Fabiola "Fabi" Torres is an online Ethnic Studies professor and Certified Faculty Developer at Glendale Community College. During the pandemic, she has led nationwide workshops and courses on applying equity-minded methods such as culturally responsive teaching in the online environment, humanizing online teaching and learning as well as ungrading practices. With dual M.A. degrees in Chicana/o Studies and Learning Technology, Fabi was featured at InstructureCon 2019 for her work in humanizing online education. In 2020, she received the Online Learning Consortium Advocate Award for Diversity and Inclusion and the Distinguished Faculty Award at Glendale Community College. In the summer of 2023, Fabi was named one of the top 30 education technology influencers for EdTech Magazine. Fabiola is a fur-mommy of Luke, Leia and Wookie. Topics include What inspired Fabiola to become a community college professor How current events influenced Fabi to stop ‘policing’ her students by moving toward ungrading How Fabi used the summer of 2020 to develop and design her own approach to ungrading How ungrading caused Fabi’s curriculum and assignments to change Why Fabi believes grades “detonate” in the souls of our students, and how her form of ungrading eliminates or at least buffers students from this experience How Fabi’s students use her REDO process—Reflect, Edit, Discover and Observe—to articulate their own learning patterns and strategies, as well as identify obstacles How technology supports—and, in some cases, impedes—teaching and learning How AI is currently influencing teaching and learning in Fabi’s classes and where she thinks it’s all headed Other resources Discovering The Spark Of Teaching & Learning Through Equitable Grading (article for California Virtual Campus Online Network of Educators) Grades Suck : Fabi’s video representing her core beliefs about learning and the problems with grades. The implementation of UnGrading will be provided in the Orientation Module is Canvas. UnGrading In Ethnic Studies 121 : Fabi’s webpage for explaining ungrading to her students.…
Jesse Stommel is a faculty member in the Writing Program at University of Denver. He is also co-founder of Hybrid Pedagogy: the journal of critical digital pedagogy and Digital Pedagogy Lab . He has a PhD from University of Colorado Boulder. He is co-author of An Urgency of Teachers: the Work of Critical Digital Pedagogy . Jesse is a documentary filmmaker and teaches courses about pedagogy, film, digital studies, and composition. Jesse experiments relentlessly with learning interfaces, both digital and analog, and his research focuses on higher education pedagogy, critical digital pedagogy, and assessment. He’s got a rascal pup, Emily, a clever cat, Loki, and a badass daughter, Hazel. Originally aired as a live Community Gathering , where Vanessa Ellis interviewed Jesse on his book, Undoing the Grade: Why We Grade, and How to Stop , and then opened the floor to questions for participants. Topics include Do we need the word 'ungrading'? Why can this term be problematic? What ungrading has looked like throughout Jesse’s career How the work of scholars like bell hooks, Kevin Gannon, and Paulo Freire have influenced Jesse’s ungrading philosophy Why ungrading is not ideologically neutral work How ungrading can empower students and support their agency Why ungrading is less about shifting policies and more about building community The "necessary practices" educators must implement to make teaching and learning more equitable Other resources Blog posts included in Jesse’s book: An Introduction to Ungrading Toward a Cointentional Approach to Assessment Ungrading for Equity…
Mike Flanagan is the CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), a growing group of high schools creating a digital high school transcript that opens up opportunity for each and every student—from all backgrounds, locations, and types of schools—to have their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and histories fostered, understood, and celebrated. Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap until May 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Association of Independent Schools, where he led a complete redesign and relaunch of their School and Student Services financial aid platforms. Topics include How Mike’s background in education and technology influenced his interest and involvement in the Mastery Transcript Consortium The genesis and history of the Mastery Transcript, as well as some of the troubling statistics behind the traditional measures of grades, GPA, and test scores What the Mastery Transcript is and what schools in the Mastery Transcript Consortium have in common What mastery learning is and how it accelerates and enhances equity How schools or districts might know if they are ready to work with MTC What colleges, admissions offices, and admissions officers have to say about the Mastery Transcript Other resources What We Do : Key principles, features, and benefits of the Mastery Transcript MTC Community Talkback: Competency-based Credentials : This topical, cross-sector discussion features insights from representatives of America Succeeds, CAPS Network, Education Reimagined, Envision Learning Partners and Jobs for the Future. Mastery Transcript Tour : Susie Bell, Senior Director of Member School Engagement, explains Mastery Learning and how the Mastery Transcript facilitates and propels it.…
Alex Shevrin Venet is an educator, author, and professional development facilitator based in Vermont. She teaches community college and graduate teacher education. Previously, she was a teacher and leader at an alternative therapeutic school. She is the co-founder of the Nurturing the Nurturers collective, a healing community for educators. Her first book, Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education , is a bestseller at W.W. Norton. She is also a long-time ungrader! Topics include: How Alex’s personal background and professional experiences led to her interest in trauma-informed education How Alex defines trauma in the context of her work in schools How centering four “proactive priorities” can help schools move toward more equitable and trauma-informed systems and decisions How the proactive priorities can be used to make ungrading more equitable, inclusive, and trauma informed How teachers can collectively work to make change at all levels of the system at the same time Why grades can be a barrier to unconditional acceptance Other resources: Alex’s book: Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education Alex’s website: unconditionallearning.org…
Nate Bowling teaches Social Studies at a US Embassy School in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He is a past Washington State Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist. He and his wife blog about living and teaching overseas at BowlingsAbroad.com and he is the host of the Nerd Farmer Podcast on the Channel 253 Podcast Network. He writes a weekly newsletter called Takes & Typos on Substack and you can find him on Mastodon’s Scholar.Social as @natebowling . Topics include: Nate’s changing perspective, from urging equitable access to AP classes to calling for an end to schools’ partnership with the College Board Why Nate thinks states and state universities can serve the same purposes of—and do a better job than—the College Board How the pandemic changed some of Nate’s thoughts and practices around grading How Nate’s narrative transcript from Evergreen State College in Washington informed his thinking about assessment and evaluation The best and worst things that Disney has done with the Star Wars franchise Other resources: On Teachers Going Gradeless : We Don’t Need the College Board Taking Unneeded Anxiety Out of Assessment Testing, COVID-19, and the College Board (TG2Chat LIVE! Episode 17, April 20, 2020) An open letter to the College Board about online, at-home AP tests (April 22, 2020)…
Dr. Juuso Nieminen is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Education, University of Hong Kong and a Banting Fellow at Ontario Tech University, Canada. He studies the social, cultural, and political aspects of assessment. Why do we assess the way we do? Dr. Nieminen’s research focuses on the student perspective in assessment. He is particularly interested in how assessment shapes students’ identities in higher education and beyond. Dr Nieminen has also examined the matters of disability inclusion and accessibility in assessment. Other resources: Toward assessment utopias! A call for educational activism to address the issues of power in grading (blog post co-written with Chris Dite) Assessment for Inclusion: rethinking inclusive assessment in higher education (Journal of Higher Education) www.juusonieminen.com On Twitter @JuusoNieminen…
Vanessa Ellis is an 8th-grade social studies teacher at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Columbus, Georgia. In 2017, Vanessa was named a Georgia Economics Teacher of the Year, and in 2018, she was selected as a Harvard Fellow to study research-based practices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 2022, she was honored as Teacher of the Year for her school and for the Muscogee County School District. This year, she officially joined our team here at TG2 and is currently one of ten finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year. She resides in Midland, Georgia, with her husband and three children. Other resources Blog posts on Teachers Going Gradeless: Not Yet Gradeless, but Grading Less Where Do We Go From Here? Different is Not Deficient Avoiding Quit Point Vanessa on the web: On Instagram: heymrsellis On Twitter: @heymrsellis On Linktree: @heymrsellis YouTube Channel…
TG2 team member, Michelle Cottrell-Williams , interviews Jan McArthur , Senior Lecturer in Education and Social Justice in the Department of Educational Research, Lancaster University, UK. Jan’s research focuses on the nature and purposes of higher education and how these relate to practices of teaching, learning, and assessment. Jan McArthur coauthored the piece, A Womanist Approach to Care-Full Feedback , with Ameena L. Payne, which received an overwhelmingly positive reception. Professor McArthur has a particular interest in critical theory and in her published work explores the ideas of Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, and Axel Honneth, applying these to higher education. Her book, Rethinking Knowledge in Higher Education , explores how Adorno’s critical theory can inform our understanding of, and engagement with, knowledge in higher education for the purposes of greater social justice. Her second book, Assessment for Social Justice , uses Honneth's conceptualization of mutual recognition to rethink the nature of assessment in higher education.…
Liz Norell is passionate about great teaching and student success. As a political scientist (well, really, a political psychologist), she's motivated to understand how/why we develop the political beliefs we do...and how to have more productive dialogue across differences. As a faculty member and mentor, she loves brainstorming ways to make classrooms more inclusive, engaging, exciting, relevant, and welcoming spaces for learning. She embraces pedagogies of equity and care, including the full spectrum of ungrading. She loves to talk with other teachers about teaching. You can follow her musings at her blog, www.liznorell.com , and on Twitter @liznorell .…
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