Why a New Approach to Grading?
Traditional grades can be confusing. A 75% doesn't tell you what you know versus what you don't. SBG gives you a crystal-clear picture of your skills by focusing on one thing: mastery. Here are a couple of ways to think about it.
Think Like a Pilot
You wouldn't want to fly with a pilot who is '75% good' at landing. Landing a plane is a pass/fail skill—you either master it or you don't. In this course, we treat core math skills the same way. True understanding is what ensures a safe journey through future concepts.
Build Like an Engineer
Imagine building a car engine. If the pistons move and the fuel injection system is also done, but if an ignition system is missing, the car won't start. It's not broken—it's just incomplete. A '0' in this class means a key component isn't functioning yet, and we need to go back and get it working properly.
How It Works: The 1/0 Scale
Every exam question will be specified with a specific standard item. A score isn't a final judgment; it's feedback to guide your learning.
Score: 1 = Mastery ✅
This means you've successfully demonstrated a complete understanding of a skill. You've got this!
Score: 0 = Not Yet 🔄
This simply means the skill needs more practice. It's a temporary status, not a failure. It's a signpost showing us exactly what to work on next, and you'll have more chances to demonstrate mastery.
Course Standards
There are 58 standard items. Core Standards (in bold) must be mastered twice (once during the semester, once on the final) and count for two points each, making the total number of mastery points 67.
Visualizing Your Journey
After the first exam, seeing a lot of '0's is normal. This chart shows how your mastery of the 67 total points will grow as you learn, practice, and reassess.