Drawing from her classroom experience, educator Megan McLean challenges the deeply ingrained culture of grade obsession that dominates our schools and stifles authentic learning. Through compelling examples of equitable grading practices, she demonstrates how written feedback and opportunities for revision don't just improve academic outcomes – they transform students' relationship with learning itself. McLean presents a powerful vision for reimagining education where grades serve as steppingstones rather than final destinations, preparing students for a world that values growth, resilience, and the ability to learn from mistakes over perfect first attempts. Megan was always good at playing school and enjoyed being a student. As a student at the University of Idaho, she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and realized her love of learning. The university course catalog was a new world of knowledge, and she dabbled in architecture, art, and history, in addition to the required courses for her mechanical engineering degree.As a mathematics teacher, Megan has become passionate about representing mathematicians who resemble all students in the classroom so that everyone can see themselves as a “math person” and runs @mathematicianslooklikeallofus on Instagram. This project led her to pursue a PhD in mathematics & science education at Washington State University, focusing on equitable grading and the impact of written feedback, instead of points-based feedback, in the mathematics classroom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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