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12/10/2025

News & Resources from the Web

Here is a summary of recent news and resources relevant to nursing education and public health:

Teaching & Grading Practices

A recent report from Harvard, summarized in The Chronicle of Higher Education's newsletter, Teaching, addresses concerns about grade inflation and its impact on student motivation and stress.

  • The Problem: The report, authored by Amanda Claybaugh, Dean of Undergraduate Education, suggests that as grading has become more lenient, A's are now "an expectation rather than a distinction."

  • Contributing Factors: Certain modern teaching practices may unintentionally fuel this trend. Specifically, the report cites:

    • Low-stakes assessments: May reward effort over mastery.

    • Nontraditional assignments: Can complicate the measurement of excellence.

    • Alternative grading methods: May reduce the ability to accurately distinguish between student performance levels.

Seeking Input on Grading:

The Chronicle is actively seeking input from educators regarding these issues. They ask:

“Do you think grading is ‘out of whack,’ as one Harvard professor was quoted as saying? Do grades no longer distinguish between excellent and acceptable work? Do modern teaching practices place too much emphasis on effort and completion and not enough on content mastery and skill development? Write to me at beth.mcmurtrie@chronicle.com or fill out this Google form. I want to hear from you.”

Public Health Data & Advocacy

  • CDC Wastewater Data for Measles: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a public dashboard displaying current wastewater data for measles from 46 states, DC, and Guam. This interactive map is updated every Friday and allows users to zoom into state-level data.

  • APHA Podcast on Advocacy: The American Public Health Association (APHA) features a podcast called The Nation's Health. The latest episode, titled "Silence isn't Science," focuses on advocacy in public health.

 

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