opengraded

Opengraded is a term used to describe an approach in educational assessment that emphasizes openness in the grading process. In opengraded systems, the criteria, rubrics, and outcomes of assessments are published and available for inspection, inviting scrutiny and feedback from students, educators, and external researchers. The aim is to improve transparency, consistency, and fairness in evaluation, and to enable reproducibility of marks across contexts.

Core elements include a rubric schema that encodes criteria, performance levels, and scoring rules; open artifacts such as assignments and student work; an auditable grading history with timestamps and grader identifiers; licensing and metadata to support reuse; and interoperability with learning platforms through standard interfaces.

Implementation typically relies on open data formats, version control for rubrics and artifacts, and modular software that supports multiple graders and review workflows. Tools may offer rubric-based grading, peer review, and secure audit logs, with attention to privacy and data governance through opt-in sharing and access controls.

Origins and reception: opengraded emerged from open pedagogy discussions in education and assessment reform circles as a means to address opacity in grading. Advocates argue that openness promotes fairness, research into grading reliability, and clearer expectations for students, while critics note potential privacy concerns, administrative overhead, and the risk of rubrics becoming overly prescriptive.

See also: open pedagogy, open educational resources, transparent assessment, learning analytics.