Grading.... I Have to do it, so how will we for this class?
The graphic to the left should sum up my view on the traditional approach to grading, but unfortunately I work in a system where we have to have traditional A-F grades. Luckily, a Gamified classroom can be a nice combination and "bridge" between having no grades and having a grading system like you are used to. So, thanks to the combination of Experience Points (XP), Quests and Quest Levels, our class will have an approach to grading similar to how you level up in video games - the higher your level the higher your grade. Basically, I have structured the grading of this course to be based on your XP. As you earn XP, you will slowly level up from Level 0 to Level 50. So here is how it will work:
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- Everyone starts at Level 0 with 0 XP. You will start earning XP from the very beginning of the course and slowly start to level up.
- Every student basically "starts with an F." I know, it sounds bad. And if you do nothing, your grade will stay an F. But as you earn XP and level up, your grade goes up. Once you hit Level 11 you will be at a D-, and your grade will never go back down. Ever.
- The more XP you earn, the higher your level will be. The higher your level, the higher your grade. So basically, the harder you work and the more you do, the more your grade goes up. Oh, and did I mention it will never go back down??
- The highest level you can achieve is Level 50, which would be equal to 100% in the course.
- The amount of XP you need to level up slowly increases as you increase your level.
- The grading scale and XP needed for each level will be kept "secret," just like in video games. You will know what level you are and how much XP you need to get to the next level, but that will be it.
- Each student will have his or her own individual specialized gradesheet that will allow you to keep track of your Quests and XP so that you know exactly where you stand and what grade you can receive in the course. That gradesheet is explained below:
The Gamified Gradesheet
Our Gamified Gradesheet is a specialized gradebook designed just for this class. It contains several sections that allow you to know exactly what you have done, when you did it and what grade you will finish the course with. Let's see what each part is:
The Green Part - This area lists how much XP you have earned, what your current level is and what your current grade is if you did nothing else the entire rest of the course. The Yellow Part - The yellow section lets you know what your final grade might be for the trimester if you continue to work and earn XP at the same pace you have been. This grade is not a guaranteed grade. It is just a projection - it is what you COULD finish with if you continue to work hard and complete Quests at your current pace, speed and level of correct answers. |
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The Blue and Gray Parts - These sections of the gradesheet are where we keep track of the XP you earn for each of the Quests you do. Each rectangular section represents a Quest Level, and each possible Quest is listed on the gradesheet. So from the start of class you know each Quest for each Quest Level. The gradesheet will automatically add together all the XP and automatically update the Green and Yellow parts, letting you constantly be up-to-date with your grade.
The Purple Part - This is where we keep track of the Legendary Quests. These are the "special quests" that will occur throughout the course.
The Purple Part - This is where we keep track of the Legendary Quests. These are the "special quests" that will occur throughout the course.