Ungrading Practices Faculty Learning Community
FLC.UP
Please APPLY ONLINE
Deadline for application: March 24, 2020
Pratt’s upcoming Faculty Learning Community (FLC) for the 2020-21 academic year, Ungrading Practices, is a multidisciplinary research collaborative with a strong commitment to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The Ungrading Practices FLC will initially be focused around the provocations by Stommell in his article ‘How To Ungrade’, such as: 1/ Why do we grade? 2/ How does it feel to be graded? 3/ What do we want grading to do (or not do) in our classes? 4/ What would happen if we didn’t grade? Participants will engage in research-based implementations of alternative approaches to grading and assessment through the lense of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), culminating in a research project ready for publication in our internal CTL Journal (exact title TBD). With that goal in mind, throughout the two semesters, participants will continuously engage in conversation with and support each other. Beyond the CTL Journal, the Ungrading Practices FLC participants will share their research findings in conferences, presentations, and/or outside publications, not only with the Pratt community but beyond.
The structure of the FLC will follow the tradition of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach, emphasizing learning through community-building and action-research. FLC participants can expect to collaborate, conduct case-based research using their classroom or studio practices, share and receive feedback from colleagues, and in the Spring 2021 engage in writing, continuous peer feedback and producing a scholarly piece for publication.
| Faculty Learning Communities… “develop empathy among members; operate by consensus, not majority; develop their own culture, openness, and trust; engage complex problems; energize and empower participants, have the potential of transforming institutions into learning organizations; and are holistic in approach.”
Cox, 2001 |
Call for Participants:
The Ungrading Practices FLC is for faculty with a strong commitment to study best practices and experiment with alternative and ultimately more equitable grading strategies in their own classrooms and studios. Faculty who are ready to research, willing to reflect on, and interested in analyzing their own teaching are strongly encouraged to apply. This collegial learning community will ultimately aim at creating a collection of best practices, reflective/visual narratives and producing a SoTL publication about ways to support all learners and learning styles in the context of an art and design institution.
We are seeking interested Pratt faculty.
One year commitment will begin with a one day Kick-Off Institute in late May and continue throughout the Fall 2020 and Spring 2021 semesters, including one Mid-Year Institute in January, 2021 and a closing celebratory presentation for the Pratt Community.
Members of the Ungrading Practices FLC will gain the many benefits of cross-disciplinary collaboration and scholarship. Part time faculty will receive a compensation of $1500 stipend (processed at $750 at the end of each semester). Participants will be expected to contribute approximately 20 hours of work per semester. FLC participants will also have an opportunity to present their preliminary work at the Pratt Fall Forum on Teaching and Learning and share their work during the Pratt Research Open House in the Spring semester.
Application Process:
Please submit your application for the limited spots available by March 24 (Tuesday). The selection committee will take into consideration the following:
- Your application and commitment to follow through;
- Prior work and interest in this topic;
- Creating an interdisciplinary FLC, representing a variety of Schools and disciplines;
The finalized FLC membership will be announced by mid April.