Research in gamified learning is still needed to expound how gamification may be employed to realistically yield positive effects on learning motivation. It is essential to evaluate whether gamification can foster autonomous forms of motivation, such as intrinsic motivation, which has been related to learning persistence and performance quality,…

How do students perceive alternative approaches to grading? Do those perceptions change over time? This mixed methods study addressed these questions for three alternative grading approaches - democratic contract grading, specifications grading, and "ungrading" - in a community college context. While alternative grading models in higher…

With increased interest in outcomes-based assessment in sport management programs, the Specifications Grading model can be implemented within individual courses to facilitate the process. Specific requirements that are articulated at course onset with explicit directions, samples of high-scoring work, and access to evaluation rubrics can set…

Individual readiness assurance tests (iRATs) are frequently graded in team-based learning (TBL) classrooms, with the goal of incentivizing individual pre-class preparation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether shifting to an ungraded iRAT process affects student preparation and learning, as measured using assessment scores, and…

Traditionally, in sports, we spend the majority of practice time trying to do the "right" things; that is, producing the desired performance outcomes (e.g., hitting a golf shot down the middle of the fairway, shooting a basketball into the net, hitting a baseball into fair play). An alternative is to practice doing the "wrong"…

Systems of higher education have been founded in formal grading structures for several decades. However, recent data has shown that traditional letter grades may not be effective for true student learning and engagement. Pedagogical data shows traditional grading formats are not always effective in evaluating learning. Ungrading is a system of…

Enhancing student engagement and achievement in large undergraduate university courses is a vibrant area of research. Many existing studies have demonstrated the capacity of technologically enhanced formal and informal learning spaces to promote learning. However, this literature is dominated by studies that use assessment to incentivise student…

Healthcare educators are encouraged to provide both skill-based practical exams and interprofessional experiences to prepare students for clinical practice. With skill-based exams come increased student stress and anxiety. This article reports on the development, exploratory outcomes, and lessons learned from an ungraded objective structured…