146 - AI, Ethics, and the Future of Grading PLUS a first look at the Schedule for the 2026 Grading Conference

In this episode, Sharona and Boz preview the upcoming 2026 Grading Conference while also diving into one of the most urgent emerging issues in education: the role of AI in grading and feedback. After highlighting exciting conference sessions—from new research studies and faculty learning communities to sessions on large-scale implementation, student agency, and ungrading—the conversation pivots to the ethical, practical, and philosophical implications of AI-assisted assessment. Sharona and Boz explore whether AI can improve consistency, speed, and scalability in grading—especially in large classes—while wrestling with concerns about bias, depersonalization, and the erosion of student-instructor relationships. Rather than offering easy answers, the episode frames AI as a powerful but potentially dangerous tool that educators must approach intentionally, asking not just whether AI can grade, but whether its use strengthens or weakens the fundamentally human purpose of education.LinksPlease note - any books linked here are likely Amazon Associates links. Clicking on them and purchasing through them helps support the show. Thanks for your support!Schedule for the 2026 Grading ConferenceSpring 2026 Faculty Learning Community on Alt Grading - Hosted by Drew Lewis and Melanie LenahanMAA OPEN Math Fall Faculty Learning Community on Alt Grading - Registration and Information - Hosted by Sharona Krinsky and Robert BosleyHow AI-Powered Essay Grading Is Transforming Modern Education SystemsIs It Ethical to Use AI to Grade?ResourcesThe Center for Grading Reform - seeking to advance education in the United States by supporting effective grading reform at all levels through conferences, educational workshops, professional development, research and scholarship, influencing public policy, and community building.The Grading Conference - an annual, online conference exploring Alternative Grading in Higher Education & K-12.Some great resources to educate yourself about Alternative Grading:The Grading for Growth BlogThe Grading ConferenceThe Intentional Academia BlogRecommended Books on Alternative Grading:Grading for Growth, by Robert Talbert and David ClarkSpecifications Grading, by Linda NilsenUndoing the Grade, by Je