Evaluation

I had a meeting yesterday with the instructors for the martial arts course. Evaluation seems to be the topic with which we are somewhat stuck. Given that this is a University level course we require some manner through which to appraise students. Further, because we are delivering the course through Sociology (co-listed with Phys-ed) we cannot rely solely on physical measures. 

On its face, this course is meant to be a radical alternative to the run-of-the-mill and every-day practice endemic to almost every university. In the established version, the professor takes her/his place at the front of the room at the designated hour and lectures for the set time and then leaves with little or no interaction with students. No doubt, many in my field find cold comfort in this reality. Our course, by contrast, demands a more hospitable and relaxed environment. Really, in what other course is there potential to batter your prof? - I'm certain many have considered it!

Given its radical constitution, how should students be graded (no, their ability to tap out the prof would not be useful)? I am not certain that Denis Rancourt's approach of giving A+s to everyone is viable. Ain't academic freedom grand! Such that this is a university course we are (somewhat) bound by institutional rules (there's always some latitude), so we HAVE to have students perform some tasks which we can then evaluate.

Keeping in mind that one of our goals is to have students confront their inner self and ask critical questions about their being in the world through training, I want to know: How do you think we should grade our students? What assignments should we prescribe? What readings would you recommend? Please feel free to be as radical and "outside the box" as your mind allows.

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com