A word about Professional Judgement

Professional judgement is a credible and dependable way to determine final grades because it relies on a teacher’s expertise to interpret a range of evidence and provide an accurate picture of a student’s learning.

While some educators view averaging test scores as more objective, it is important to recognize that informed professional judgement (evidence-informed decision making) often offers a more accurate representation of student achievement. Teachers should be supported and trusted to use their expertise in this process.

Teachers can evaluate student performance with moderate to high accuracy by drawing on multiple sources of evidence over time. This approach reflects a wide range of professional skills and goes beyond test results to include observations of engagement, motivation, and learning behaviours. As a result, teacher judgement is a nuanced, evidence-based practice rather than a simple estimate.

Key Takeaways:

• Teacher judgement is not subjective guesswork; it is a complex, evidence-based professional process.
• Teachers integrate multiple data sources over time, not just test scores.
• Accuracy is generally moderate to high, especially with experienced teachers.
• Professional judgement can be as accurate, or more meaningful, than single-point quantitative measures.
• It plays a critical role in supporting student learning and informing instruction.

Rethinking Commonly Held Beliefs

Two decades later, these video clips from a 2009 conference continue to resonate with educators as they explore long-standing and often debated beliefs about grading and assessment. In this three-part series, Rick Wormeli, renowned educator and bestselling author, draws on his classroom experience to challenge traditional practices and offer perspectives that prioritize meaningful student learning. His insights remain a catalyst for reflection and conversation in today’s classrooms.

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