The theme for the 2025 CBA Symposium was “From Starting Out to Scaling Up,” The event aspired to provide participants with the tools to:
Our keynote speaker Sharona Krinsky, Executive Director and Director of Programming, Higher Education at the Center for Grading Reform shared insights relevant to the Canadian Engineering Context, drawing on her extensive experience including an active four year grant with California State University engineering programs. She described principles, change management strategies and multiple engineering course transformations to alternative grading, for example, Statics, Strength of Materials, etc. A panel consisting of Dr. Brian Frank (Queen’s University), Dr, Sean Maw (University of Saskatchewan), and Dr. Barbara Da Silva (Queen’s University) presented insights into the Canadian Engineering Context with respect to their involvement in CBA implementation at different levels.
Parallel workshop options allowed participants to select from either course development activity, or a more general continuation of the conversation with Sharona Krinsky.
Over 73 participants engaged over the two days either remotely or in person, representing more than 16 Canadian engineering programs.Our tradition of the informal dinners provided the opportunity for participants to experience a bit of Kingston’s downtown culture while also engaging with each other.
Links to the participant available recordings and slide decks are included here by session:
| Session | Speakers |
|---|---|
| Zoom Recording of Full Session | May 14 Presentation Zoom Recording |
| Opening and welcome | Dean Kevin Deluzio |
|
Introduction |
Dr. Brian Frank |
|
Review of CBA Guiding Principles |
Dr. Sean Maw |
|
Why grading needs to change - Grading as the (Mis)Use of Mathematics in the Measurement of Student Learning |
Prof. Sharona Krinsky |
| Introduction to Thursday’s Speakers | Dr. Brian Frank |
| Session | Speakers |
|---|---|
| Opening and welcome | Associate Dean Kevin Mumford |
|
Introduction |
Dr. Brian Frank |
|
Keynote Interactive Session: Implementing Alternative Grading In the Engineering Context and the Resulting Impact |
Prof. Sharona Krinsky |
|
The Canadian Context: Short presentations reflecting experience from both course and program level |
Dr. Brian Frank, Dr, Sean Maw, Dr. Barbara Da Silva |
|
Course and Instructor Specific Interactive Workshop |
Symposium Team |
|
Program and Grant Conversation |
Prof. Sharona Krinsky |
| Integration of Experiences | Symposium Team |
| Reflective Panel | Alan Ableson, Kaitlin Palmer, Ali Akgunduz |
| Closing Remarks | Associate Dean Kevin Mumford |
Now in its fourth year, the CBA Symposium brings together engineering educators, interested professionals, and graduate students to explore topics relating to competency-based assessment. As we plan each symposium we are building on successful elements of the previous years.
