REVOLUTIONIZING HIGHER LEARNING: THE CONCEPT OF GRADELESS LEARNING OR INNOVATIVE GRADES

Abstract

Grading is used to evaluate and provide feedback on student work by which instructors can communicate to students about how they are performing in the course and where they need more help to achieve the course’s goals. The first year of higher education can be one of life’s most stressful times, but the growing numbers of students reporting challenges to their well-being and mental health have made this crucial period a particularly pressing concern for universities to address. Although these challenges have multiple causes, one stressor is the constant struggle to get grades good enough to be accepted by the most prestigious universities, selected for the most sought-after exchange programmes, or employed at the most attractive workplaces after graduation. Many have suggested that performance grading may be a factor in the increasing number of students reporting having mental health issues, including feelings of stress.