Grading Visible Learners

Dave Nagel has been a professional developer and educational consultant both nationally and internationally since 2003 and has done so as his primary job in education since 2008. Prior was a middle and high school science teacher and administrator in a large district in Indianapolis. As a school leader at Ben Davis High School (enrollment 3000 students) Dave was instrumental in developing a focused plan for differentiated goals for students based on specific proficiency measures which supported the school in improving its graduation rate 14% in just over 4 years.                                          Dave’s primary areas of expertise are in the areas of effective teacher and leader collaboration, assessment and feedback, and specifically effective grading actions both at the school and classroom level. He has been working specifically with Professor John Hattie’s Visible Learning research since 2011 that is a driving force for all of his work with teachers, coaches, and administrators. He has authored 5 books previous to this one, including four within the PLC+ series of publications (Corwin).                                         Published multiple times in various publications such as Principal Leadership and Educational Leadership, Dave has also presented at various national conferences.Dave has a strong moral aspect, strives to be very relatable and practical when working with people, and has a savvy sense of humor that supports him in his life and work.   Dave stays very busy with his beautiful and supportive wife, Kristen, and three boys (ages 20, 15, and 13). He acknowledges every day that the Lord guides his actions and is the driving force in his life. Dave is an independent consultant for Corwin Press and is the owner of NZJ Learning LLC (named after his three boys) and the Founder of The Center for Collaborative Expertise.Bruce Potter is a school administrator with over 30 years experience. Bruce began his career as a classroom teacher and has held leadership roles at the building level as a principal and at the district level as a superintendent for 11 years. In 2013 he secured special legislation which was signed into law by the Governor of New York to open a public school for at-risk and special education students who were identified by their home districts as future high school dropouts. Over a 6 year period, they achieved a graduation rate of 80%. In his current role he is leading his district’s certification as a Visible Learning school through the implementation of effective PLC’s. Over the course of his career he has shared his district’s successes at several national conferences. Bruce is an independent consultant for Corwin Press and is co-founder of the Center for Collaborative Expertise

"The authors have done a great service by bringing the cornerstone concepts of the Visible Learning methodology together with the practice of grading that actually promotes and focuses on learning."

• Foreword by John AlmarodePart I: Setting The Stage For Grading to Develop Great LearnersChapter 1: Why Effective Grading MattersChapter 2: Developing Visible Learners Through GradingChapter 3: Challenges to Grading Visible LearnersChapter 4: Core Grading Actions and the SI2TE ModelChapter 5: Adult Mindframes Drive Student LearningChapter 6: Bringing Clarity to GradingPart II: Classroom and PLC Actions to Develop Each of the 6 Traits of a Visible Learner Through GradingChapter 7: Great Learners Gauge Their Current Level of UnderstandingChapter 8: Great Learners are Ready to Take on ChallengesChapter 9: Great Learners Adapt Tools to Guide Their LearningChapter 10: Great Learners Determine how to Seek Feedback and Recognize Errors are Opportunities to LearnChapter 11: Great Learners Evaluate Their ProgressChapter 12: Great Learners are Successful in Recognizing Their Learning and Teach OthersChapter 13: Effective Grading is a Critical Component of the Practice of TeachingAfterword by John Hattie