Celebrating Innovative Teaching

Ungrading (2022-23)

In 2021-2022, faculty across the College gathered to discuss Susan Blum’s edited volume, Ungrading, as a part of CTL Reads. Faculty participants in the reading group discussed some of the potential problems with traditional grading practices, and considered whether they might use assignments and feedback to better promote learning, and to encourage growth in students. Here, we highlight three faculty members’ innovations and experiments with alternative grading practices. For more information about “ungrading”, check out this resources page.

New Ideas for a New Normal: Innovative Strategies and Ideas from Pandemic-Era Teaching (2021-22)

In 2020-2021, Reed College faculty, like faculty across the nation and indeed the world, made dramatic changes to their course design to make engagement and learning possible even in the midst of a global pandemic. Faculty held classes on Zoom, in outdoor classrooms, and in socially-distanced labs and lecture halls; they experimented with new technologies, course design, and teaching strategies to maintain the rigorous, personalized, and collaborative learning environment for which Reed is known. Here, we highlight some of the innovations that faculty developed that they plan to maintain even as we return to a primarily in-person learning environment.