The challenge of keeping students engaged during distance learning “has been compounded by points-based grading systems,” writes Justin Wells, the executive director of Envision Learning Partners, an organization that helps schools and districts develop performance assessment systems. When a course is designed mainly around points, teachers send a signal that “school is a game. Everything counts. No failure allowed while you practice,” which can push kids to disconnect from the learning process, says Wells. Wells shares a few ways to assess student performance while making learning less about grades and more meaningful: Avoid Adding Up Points: For many learners, having their final grade be the sum of routine graded assessments, such as quizzes and homework, creates the impression that learning is only about getting a good grade every single time. When Wells ignored his students’ aggregated grades calculated by the grading software, he found it “easier to awaken them, rather than co...