Thread by @STADigitalMedia

Ever wonder what it would look like if students had control of their own learning? What would happen if students worked on personal projects with no grades?

What if you built a class around personalized, competency-based, #ungraded, #realworldlearning? It looks like this 🧵

This is a shot from a beautiful project about memories; how one simple action can set off a string of melancholic thoughts of a friend.

There were some creative transitions and surprises. Did I mention there was no grade for this assignment? What good is a grade book column?

These shots are from a wildly silly (but completely original) music video. This project included things I couldn’t even imagine.

That only happens when students are in charge & there’s no grade. You don’t get Tommy dressed as Santa in a cartoon sleigh if the teacher is in charge

Thanks to the @lsedfoundation, we have some great new equipment for directing the camera.

Students in this group chose to demonstrate this skill through a crane shot. It took a team of people to pull it off. Students work better together when there’s no grade #ungrading

Since Trinity already had the crane ready, she was eager to help this group. I know this team had fun. They laughed a lot.

I wasn’t laughing at the poor white balance in their film, but I know they’ll do better next time.

(They fixed it before we watched in class) #ungrading

This group decided to work with camera movement too and created this film in one take.

Chase is acting natural in this shot, even as the alarm sounds in the building. If he makes it to the door, he’s free.

Either way, there’s no grade for this, so that’s why he’s so relaxed.

Not all the projects were silly.

This project is a reminder to embrace every moment & to cherish time with others.

This thread is about #ungraded personalized learning, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this approach is better for everyone’s mental well being. It just is.

When you let students choose their learning objectives & the way they demonstrate them, you end up with a lot of different projects.

Students get an opportunity to try new things knowing they have time & autonomy. The results are always better than what a teacher could imagine

This is from a project that brought together a team from 3 schools. They filmed early in the morning. They added hand drawn animations & recorded an original poem.

So much work for no grade!

(The work they’re capable of is diminished by a column in the grade book) #ungrading

We’re back where we started.

This team did some creative color techniques to move the story.

As soon as they were done they were ready to start the next project.

They don’t know the skills for the next project. They’ll learn as they go. That’s easier to do thanks to #ungrading