EPISODE 06: ASSESSMENT

Episode 06: Assessment | 30 December 2025

Trent and Stephen expand on The Worldbuilding Workshop’s fifth chapter, “Assessment,” including:

• The similarities and differences between alphanumeric and standards-based grading;

• Rubrics, portfolio artifacts, and how to differentiate between different kinds of student growth;

• Assessment methods that optimally fit the worldbuilding process;

• Systemic problems with quantitative assessment in K12 and higher education;

• The consequences of privileging quantitative over qualitative assessment;

• Project-based approaches to instruction and valuing process over product;

• Grade grubbing vs. learning for learning’s sake;

• How we collectively understand learner grades vs. student evaluations of teaching;

• And finding an assessment approach you can live with.

Episode References:

• Trasviña, J. (2025, May 27). Grading for equity coming to San Francisco high schools this fall. The Voice of San Francisco. https://thevoicesf.org/grading-for-equity-coming-to-san-francisco-high-schools-this-fall/