iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

TFW you see that a student submitted a learning reflection/request for retesting *during* your class. 🫠

Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Handed back my first exam of the semester in my standards-based class this week. After 6 years of alt grading, I have to remind myself how great it is to be having “help me understand topic X deeper” convos rather than “why did I lose points” convos with many students this week. 🥰

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Does this happen to anyone else? As a professor, I get SO many requests for letters of recommendation, and a surprising number of them read like, "I really like your class/teaching style/etc., and that's why I'm asking you." It just seems like an odd "justification."

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Last call! Grading Conference abstracts are due tomorrow! Info in link or you can scan the QR code in the flyer. www.centerforgradingreform.org/grading-conf...

Flyer with call for abstracts for the Grading Conference.

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Jayme Dyer, PhD 🏳️‍🌈 @youtoobio.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

I co-authored a post with @katiemattaini.bsky.social and Eden Tanner on @empittsdonahoe.bsky.social blog about Alternative Grading in Large Classes: emilypittsdonahoe.substack.com/p/alternativ...

emilypittsdonahoe.substack.com

Alternative Grading in Large Classes

How to implement pedagogical values within logistical constraints

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Drew Lewis @drew-lewis.com · 15/12/2025

I generally don't share things from Substack no matter how great I think they are, but I appreciated this footnote on a blog post about alternative grading in large classes that addresses this. Too many folks just keep posting away without the slightest acknowledgement of what Substack stands for.

A note about the Substack platform from the authors. We had several conversations about whether we wanted to write a post that was published on Substack, given Substack’s current stance on publishing pro-Nazi and racist content. We decided to write this guest post because we think alternative grading can help move the needle in a more just and equitable direction, but we nevertheless want to collectively express our discomfort with Substack for choosing to promote and platform Nazi rhetoric. Notably, one contributor to this post chose not to list their name as an author out of a moral objection to Substack’s pro-Nazi stance.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

New snarky grading cross stitch inspo from @drew-lewis.com today: 100-point scale Making up numbers based on ✨vibes✨

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Finally!! New title: Assistant Teaching Professor 👩🏻‍🏫

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Drew Lewis @drew-lewis.com · 11/06/2025

"Liking is not a feeling. It is a *set of practices* that leads to a feeling" Really great and thought-provoking talk from Asou Inoue this morning. #TheGradingConference

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

In yesterday's session "Special Topics: Equity" at #TheGradingConference, Robert Erdmann shared research showing equitable outcomes of dropped grade policies...

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Three awesome talks in "Research: Student Perceptions" at #TheGradingConference. Across different institutions and even types of #AltGrading, students GET IT. They see how alt grading aligns more with true learning, and their views of it only become more positive after experiencing it.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Session "Special topics: Neurodiversity" at #TheGradingConference: @sarahesilverman.bsky.social making the point that #AltGrading *can* provide a "tolerance for error" that is often needed when neurodivergent students are trying to communicate with neurotypical instructors or vice versa.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Semi-live skeeting #TheGradingConference 2025: Asao Inoue Keynote: 🤯 What really resonated with me: He said he really wanted to get students thinking about the PROCESS of their writing over the PRODUCT of their writing.

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Drew Lewis @drew-lewis.com · 10/06/2025

Excited to hang out online with 900 of my closest friends at #TheGradingConference starting tomorrow!

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Just in time for the start of 2025’s #TheGradingConference tomorrow! (And yes, I stitched this during last year’s conference. 😂) #BreakFakeRules

Cross stitch with “Break fake rules” in block letters overlaid with lines depicting increasingly larger glass shatter patterns.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Happy 13th wedding anniversary and 20 years together to my ride or die! Longer together than apart 💕

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Neil Abrams @readthedetox.com · 16/02/2025

As a political scientist who studies countries that managed to stop the slide into authoritarianism, I can assure you that ***refraining from provoking the authoritarian*** is not how it works. Without further ado, I will now go tear out another chunk of hair.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

I am just contemplating retreating ever deeper in the Enchanted Forest.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Spoiler: It’s better diagnosis. 🙄 Autistic ppl have always been here and always will be. apnews.com/article/auti...

AP new story “Trump seemed to entertain a discredited theory on autism. This is what’s behind the rising rates.”

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

How are y’all dealing with all this *waves arms around* and also continuing to do all the things you need to regularly do? Let’s share some strategies.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

My YouTube recommendations right now are hilarious, because it's half videos on molecular bio lab methods and half Stardew Valley.

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

Sarah Robinson @sarahdesigns.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

I don't want to be on ghastly x anymore but it's where a lot of my sales come from so this post is a brazen request for shares to spread the word about my work on a kinder platform that isn't run by a dangerous megalomaniac! www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Sara... #selfemployedartist #ukgifthour #shopindie

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Yesterday was told this was racist & sexist & asked how I would like it if speaker hung a Playboy centerfold on his office door. My favorite responses so far (none of which I used):

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

So I was asked to be on a committee to define and address the "problem" with grades at Tufts. Dear Husband's response: "Damnnnn. They just brought a sharpshooter to a knife fight." Note: The committee was formed in response to data on how high Tufts' grades are on average.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Suddenly felt urgent to find this in still-packed boxes from Summer ‘23 move…. Can’t imagine why.

Cross stitch with flowers and the text “I’ve got 99 problems and white heteronormative patriarchy is basically all of them”

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Ally solidarity toolkit: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Image of a fist raised in solidarity with text
“Solidarity with Tufts full-time lecturers!”

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Love the epigraph for Reach Everyone, Teach Everyone: Universal Design for Learning in Higher Education! "One thing about systems, especially systems as old as American higher education, is that people grow unconscious of them. The system gets internalized. It becomes a mind-set.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

"This course has truly helped me grow both as a person and as an intrepid molecular biologist." I address our class collectively as "intrepid molecular biologists" in every email, so I don't know why this is making me so emotional. 🥲 It must be the exhaustion.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I've fully drunk the Kool-aid around #AltGrading and #Ungrading, but this semester I began co-teaching a 550 person intro bio course run by another (amazing!!) instructor, and it's traditionally graded. We released course grades yesterday, and I have FEELINGS.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

This was my first semester solo coordinating #TuftsMolBioLab, and I felt like a LOT of things went wrong. But I just met with a student who said she had "no notes" for class changes! Sometimes it's hard to remember that we're our own worst critics.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

My lab TA this semester has the same name as my SIL. Yesterday I definitely texted her, "Omg, should we get matching Christmas PJs for all the grandkids??" 😂😅

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Poster about the OER Encyclopedia of Biological Methods was super well received at #ASMCUE! Hoping for fruitful collaborations from these conversations to add more entries. #EOBM @libretexts.bsky.social @asmicrobiology.bsky.social bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/...

White woman presenting a poster in the Encyclopedia of Biological Methods

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Amazing talk by @drtrmorton.bsky.social at #ASMCUE on fostering justice & joy in STEM Ed.

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Reposted by Dr. Katie Mattaini

David Buck @dbuckedu.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Based on a wonderful suggestion from @jaustinedu.bsky.social, I've created a rough Starter Pack for those involved with #ungrading & alternative #assessment. If I forgot someone (I'm sure I have!), please forgive me & let me know if you want to be added to the list. Thanks! go.bsky.app/G6hA6Ru

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bonnell.bsky.social @bonnell.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

At long last, I have finished #LEGO #Rivendell one of the most fun and beautiful builds I've ever done!

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Heading out to catch my flight for #ASMCUE! Can’t wait to see folks! @asmicrobiology.bsky.social

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Finally did it!! Work by the amazing Tetiana Boiko. In addition to being stunning, this tattoo is actually about teaching and community for me.

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 09/09/2024

Want to support teaching unions at Tufts? Please sign! And feel free to share. 😁 act.seiu.org/a/tufts-soli...

act.seiu.org

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 06/09/2024

BioRender figures can now be published under Creative Commons licenses! This will make publishing their figures in open access journals or OER (like my Encyclopedia of Biological Methods project) possible! bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/...

bio.libretexts.org

Encyclopedia of Biological Methods (Mattaini)

This project was born out of Dr. Mattaini’s experience developing her Biology of Cancer class in Spring 2021. In the syllabus, Dr. Mattaini reveals her two big-picture goals for the course: &…

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 06/08/2024

Anyone have tips for the quickest way to get up to speed with the Canvas Learning Mastery gradebook? @southbaysharona.bsky.social? I feel like I might have seen a video by @sbagley.bsky.social about this once upon a time...

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 05/08/2024

Please RT! I'm writing a post about applying for academic jobs while #AltGrading and #Ungrading and would love to get some perspectives other than my own! Please reply or DM if you're willing to chat. :)

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 04/07/2024

Latest installment of cross stitch pieces inspired by #TheGradingConference. Love!! 😍 (This would have been finished way earlier, but I ran out of the right thread on my DC trip last week 😭)

Cross stitch piece of blocky text “break fake rules” with glass cracks running through

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Dr. Katie Mattaini @katiemattaini.bsky.social · 15/06/2024

Another amazing #TheGradingConference is in the books. So much love to this unbelievably generous and welcoming community!! Now time to collapse....

media.tenor.com

Sleepy Time For Bed GIF

Alt: Ariel snuggling into her pillow

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