Episode 7: Making Grading CALM: Consistent, Accurate, Learning-Focused, and Meaningful

Episode 7: Making Grading CALM: Consistent, Accurate, Learning-Focused, and Meaningful

Grading is one of the most powerful forces shaping teaching and learning, yet it’s often misunderstood and inconsistently applied. In this episode of Crowdmark Sessions, host and CEO Michelle Caers sits down with internationally recognized assessment expert Ken O’Connor to unpack what truly fair, accurate, and meaningful grading looks like in practice. Ken takes us inside the principles of the influential CALM framework - Consistent, Accurate, Learning-focused, and Meaningful, revealing how institutions can modernize grading systems, strengthen student trust, and align assessment with learning growth. From legacy habits that distort accuracy to practical fixes instructors can apply tomorrow, this conversation offers actionable insights every educator and academic leader can use. Tune in for a compelling discussion that may change how you think about grades. Connect with our guests  • Ken O’Connor [https://www.oconnorgrading.com/] • Michelle Caers: michelle@crowdmark.com Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest?  Email Riley Steinbach at riley@crowdmark.com. Recorded December 2025

Episode #6: Beyond the Exam: Additive Grading, Project-based Assessment, and Structure That Supports Every Student

What happens when you flip grading, rethink exams, and redesign courses from the ground up? In this episode of Crowdmark Sessions, host and CEO Michelle Caers speaks with Dr. Andrew Miller from Belmont University to reveal how additive grading, project-based assessments, and high-structure course design are transforming the student experience. From surprising successes to the real challenges behind meaningful change, Andrew offers practical insights every instructor can use. This conversation is packed with ideas that can elevate any course — tune in! Resources Mentioned • Teaching in Higher Ed — Episode 506: How to Use High Structure Course Design to Heighten Learning [https://teachinginhighered.com/podcast/how-to-use-high-structure-course-design-to-heighten-learning/] • Recombinant Education [https://www.recombinanteducation.com/] — Justin Shaffer’s website featuring his teaching philosophy and resources • High Structure Course Design: An Evidence-Based Guide for Designing, Implementing, and Assessing STEM Courses [https://www.recombinanteducation.com/book/] — A page on Shaffer’s site with the book Andrew used to implement high-structure design this semester Connect with Our Guests • Andrew Miller - LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-miller-842a579/] • Michelle Caers — LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecaers/?originalSubdomain=ca] · michelle@crowdmark.com Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email Riley Steinbach at riley@crowdmark.com Recorded November 2025.

Episode #5: Big Classrooms, Big Challenges: Navigating Assessment in Large Science Courses

In this episode of Crowdmark Sessions, host and CEO Michelle Caers speaks with Dr. Phillip Delekta and Dr. Katherine Krueger from Michigan State University about the realities of teaching and assessing in large-enrollment science courses. With classes that enroll hundreds — sometimes thousands — of students, how do instructors keep feedback meaningful, ensure consistency across large teaching teams, and help students truly engage with science? Phillip and Katherine share their approaches to active learning, collaborative teaching, and scientific practices, including why building students’ ability to argue from evidence is so critical in today’s classrooms. They also look ahead to the innovations — and challenges — shaping the future of higher education. Connect with our guests • Phillip Delekta: Webpage [https://mgi.natsci.msu.edu/people/micro-biographies/dr-phillip-delekta.aspx] • Katherine Krueger: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-krueger-9b0a9a62/] • Michelle Caers: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecaers/?originalSubdomain=ca] Questions, feedback, or want to be a guest? Email Riley Steinbach at riley@crowdmark.com . Recorded September 2025.

Episode #4: Empowering Teaching Assistants to Deliver Better Student Feedback

In this episode of Crowdmark Sessions, the host and CEO of Crowdmark, Michelle Caers, interviews Lydia Chen, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Chemical Biology from McMaster University. We’ll explore how Lydia’s teaching philosophy guides her in today’s digital-first classrooms, how tools like Crowdmark support collaborative grading, and why realistic, structured teaching assistant training could be the missing link in scalable, high-quality feedback for students. Find Lydia Chen on the web [https://experts.mcmaster.ca/display/chenl109] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lwlchen/?originalSubdomain=ca] Find Michelle Caers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecaers/?originalSubdomain=ca] and email michelle@crowdmark.com [http://michelle@crowdmark.com/].  Do you have any questions or feedback? Want to be a guest on Crowdmark Sessions? Email Riley Steinbach at Riley@crowdmark.com.  [http://riley@crowdmark.com/] Recorded July 2025

Episode #3: Preserving Academic Integrity in a Digital Era

In this episode of Crowdmark Sessions, the host and CEO of Crowdmark, Michelle Caers, interviews Corey DeGagné, an instructor in the Faculty of Computer Science [https://www.dal.ca/faculty/computerscience.html] as Dalhousie University. Join us as we tackle the complexities of academic integrity in a digital era and uncover strategies to uphold honesty in online and in-person learning. Find Corey on the web. [https://www.dal.ca/faculty/computerscience/faculty-staff/corey-degagne.html] Find Michelle Caers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellecaers/?originalSubdomain=ca] and email michelle@crowdmark.com [http://michelle@crowdmark.com/].  Do you have any questions or feedback? Want to be a guest on Crowdmark Sessions? Email Riley Steinbach at Riley@crowdmark.com.  [http://riley@crowdmark.com/] Recorded March 2025