Lessons Learned from Introductory Transportation Courses: Effective Grading Strategies

When: November 7, 2024 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

This webinar is led by the ITE Education Council.

Webinar Description:

Grading strategies in an introductory transportation engineering course play a crucial role in shaping students' learning experiences and outcomes. Effective grading not only assesses students' understanding of core concepts but also provides valuable feedback that guides their academic development. Clear and well-structured grading criteria help to set expectations, motivate students, and encourage consistent effort throughout the course.

In this webinar, attendees will learn about two innovative approaches to grading that can transform the learning experience in engineering courses. One presentation will focus on standards-based grading, a method that emphasizes students' mastery of specific learning objectives rather than traditional point-based systems. The other presentation will cover the self-grading framework, where students take an active role in assessing their own work. Both approaches offer valuable strategies for creating a more meaningful and student-centered grading process.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the fundamentals of standards-based grading,
• List the four essential principles guiding standards-based grading,
• Describe student perceptions and experiences with standards-based grading in an introductory transportation engineering course,
• Discuss the rationale behind assigning homework,
• Explore a framework for student self-grading, and
• Analyze the effectiveness of student self-grading in enhancing learning outcomes.

Moderator: 

Masoud Ghodrat Abadi, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering | California State University, Sacramento | Sacramento, CA, USA

Presenters:

• Kevin Chang, P.E., Director, National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (NIATT) | Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering | University of Idaho | Moscow, ID, USA
• Elizabeth "Libby" Jones, P.E., Professor & Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Lincoln, Nebraska, USA