Mastery- or Competency-Based Grading Spreadsheets
What is this grading spreadsheet for?
This simple mastery-based grading sheet was developed to show how to set up mastery- or competency-based grading without: 1) averaging or powerlaw scoring and 2) without graduated letter grades or scales. As educators, it can be hard to envision how a system like this would work, so this tool is a proof-of-concept to help demonstrate how it can be implemented. Of course this spreadsheet cannot replace a student information system, but a teacher wanting to experiment with mastery-based feedback to learners and to parents can test it out via this tool.
What are its unique features?
No averaging and no graduated grades or scales. Daily assignments are structured as feedback to the learner to determine if they are improving and showing progress. The purpose of the daily assignments is to determine when learners are ready for demonstration of mastery, they do not count toward the “grade.” When learners’ daily work shows enough evidence that they have “got it,” then learners do a demonstration of mastery (test, project, etc). There are 3 demos available, in case they do not succeed with the first.
How do I get started?
There are two versions of this spreadsheet, one with sample data and one that is blank. I recommend starting with the blank (if you reuse the one with data, only delete the colored boxes–many of the white cells have formulas you do not want to delete). On the far right are sheets for inputting the: Learner list (up to 30 students, use a copy of this spreadsheet for each class you teach) Learning Targets (up to 6 LTs, use a copy for each term/9-weeks/trimester). The third setup item is for you to determine the percentage that represents mastery (I recommend 90-95%, or even 100% depending on your content).
For each learning target, there is an assignment sheet (orange section, up to 11 assignments) and on the far right of the assignments you will find demonstrations of mastery (green section, up to 3 demos). To input each assignment, at the top there are 3 orange boxes to input the Asgmt Name, Max Points, and Anticipated Date Completed. As you input scores for learners it automatically fills in the max score and Anticipated Date, but if you have learners who are working at different pace or differentiated assignments, you can override either of those two individually.
How do the reports work?
There are two reports, one for learners each week and one for parents (but you can also use either report for any audience). On the LearnerWkly report, cell A2 has a single pull-down from the learner list that changes results for BOTH reports. The LearnerWkly report is designed to show learners how far they are from perfect mastery with each assignment, with a red bar that grows shorter as they get closer to mastery. Also, each assignment cell will turn blue when the assignment results are above the mastery cutoff (e.g. the mastery cutoff is 90% and the learner got a 93% on their assignment, there is a short red bar but the cell is also blue). On both reports, Mastery is either NOT YET or a green checkmark for Mastery Achieved. This is based on the demonstrations of mastery (green) section of the assignment sheets. If there is more than one demonstration, the highest demonstration is used, lower scores are not counted.
This appears to be geared for closed-ended assignments, what about open-ended types of work?
Anything that is given a score can work, including open-ended types of assignments. For projects or reports, view each “draft” of the work as separate assignments, e.g. Draft1, Draft2, Draft3. As you see improvement with each draft, the scores should go up. With open-ended work, the focus should be on instructional comments, and it is recommended to withhold scores from the students until completed. The scores are for your benefit to monitor progress.
©LCSymes.com
About the author: https://LennieSymes.me
About this tool: [https://symesposium.com/20250417/what-grading-should-look-like/)
|