There are two central components of this course on which students will be assessed: student engagement (in class and online) and a multi-step research assignment.
For more information see:
Grading
You have the option of receiving grades for each aspect of the course as we move through the semester OR following a method of assessment known as “ungrading”. For both, you will receive feedback on all assessments over the course of the semester, but with the ungrading path, you will not receive a grade. Instead, at the end of the semester, we will meet to discuss your learning journey and decide on a final grade together.
Obviously, from my perspective, ungrading is superior to enhancing student learning, but I want to give you the agency to choose. It is YOUR learning path and I want to respect your wishes and ownership of it.
For a discussion of ungrading from an instructor’s perspective, see: https://www.jessestommel.com/ungrading-an-faq/
From a student’s perspective: https://dl.sps.northwestern.edu/blog/2021/05/a-students-perspective-on-ungrading/
Please let me know by January 13th which path you would like to follow.