Overall Assessment Strategy

This assessment strategy blends ungrading-style contract grading, student self-reflection and evaluation, and instructor holistic assessment. Students complete regular reflections as part of their work, including an ongoing design journal. To support their reflective writing, as well as to make clear the expectations and feedback from the instructor, the instructor also participates in the reflection process through their own reflective writing, most of which is made public. And to support students in planning their time and prioritizing coursework, the completion of work forms a portion of the final grade. This also removes work completion from both student and instructor evaluation of the quality of the work (both process and product), requiring both to more deeply engage in reflecting on lessons learned.

Grade Breakdown

• 40%: Completion of required work, including readings, assignment milestones, and attendance.

• 30%: Guided student self-evaluation of quality of work in the course (process and product).

• 30%: Instructor evaluation of quality of work in the course (process and product).

The following sections provide suggested reflection prompts for both student and instructor.