Grading & Evaluation¶
Our grading philosophy is designed to mirror a professional environment where success is measured by both individual skills and the quality of team collaboration. The evaluation structure is transparent, giving you clear targets and rewarding consistent effort, technical mastery, and strategic thinking.
Overall Grade Distribution¶
Your final grade will be calculated out of a total of 100 points, distributed across four key areas:
| Component | Points | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Skills Boost Labs (Individual) | 40 points | 40% |
| Group Project (Team) | 45 points | 45% |
| Launch Kit - Peer Review (Individual) | 5 points | 5% |
| Active & Even Contribution (Individual) | 10 points | 10% |
| Total | 100 points | 100% |
Cloud Skills Boost Labs¶
This component measures your individual, hands-on mastery of core cloud and AI tools through official Google Cloud labs. This is a mastery-based grade; you choose the level you wish to achieve.
- Beginner Path Completion (C-Level): Earns 28 out of 40 points.
- Intermediate Path Completion (B-Level): Earns 34 out of 40 points.
- Advanced Path Completion (A-Level): Earns the full 40 points.
Completing these paths also earns you official Google Cloud badges that you can share on your LinkedIn profile to demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
| Level | Title | Cost | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | AI Boost Bites: Your Edge in the AI-Powered World | Free | |
| Beginner | Generative AI Leader | Free | |
| Beginner | Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path | Free | |
| Intermediate | Generative AI Labs with Gemini on Google Cloud | 21 credits | |
| Advanced | Generative AI Labs with Gemini on Google Cloud or Generative AI for Developers Learning Path |
26 Credits 19 Credits |
Group Project¶
This is the culminating project where your team will design, build, and present a functional AI application. See the project description and rubric for more details. Review the detailed description of each of the deliverables below.
Individual Project Contribution¶
This grade ensures individual accountability and rewards strong teamwork. It is assessed using your activity in the team's GitHub repository and a confidential peer evaluation.
| Criteria | Exemplary (A-Level) | Proficient (B-Level) | Needs Improvement (C/D-Level) | Unsatisfactory (F-Level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task Management & Completion (4 Points) |
4 Points Consistently completes all assigned GitHub Issues on time. Contributions are high-quality, well-documented, and clearly visible in the repository. |
3 Points Completes most assigned Issues on time. Contributions are of good quality and visible in the repository. |
2 Points Completes some assigned Issues, but may be frequently late or contributions are of low quality. |
0-1 Point Fails to complete most assigned Issues. There is little to no evidence of work in the repository. |
| Communication & Proactivity (3 Points) |
3 Points Frequently provides thoughtful comments, suggestions, and constructive feedback on the team's Issues. Proactively identifies new tasks and creates Issues for them. |
2 Points Participates in discussions within Issues and offers feedback when asked. Communicates progress on assigned tasks. |
1 Point Communication is minimal. Rarely participates in discussions or offers feedback. |
0 Points No meaningful communication or proactive contributions are evident in the repository. |
| Team Citizenship & Reliability (Based on Peer Evaluation) (3 Points) |
3 Points Peer evaluations consistently rate the student as a highly reliable, prepared, and supportive teammate who elevates the group's performance. |
2 Points Peer evaluations indicate the student is a reliable and solid contributor who meets team expectations. |
1 Point Peer evaluations suggest issues with reliability, preparation for meetings, or a pattern of passive contribution. |
0 Points Peer evaluations consistently indicate a lack of participation, reliability, or respect for the team. |
Peer Evaluation Process: At the conclusion of the group project, you will be required to complete a confidential peer evaluation for each member of your team, including yourself. You will be asked to rate your teammates on a scale of 1-5 across several categories, such as reliability, quality of contributions, and communication, and provide a brief justification for your ratings.
Grading Policies and Scale¶
- Late Submissions: Late work is graded at the instructor's discretion. This is a project-based course that mimics a professional environment where deadlines matter. If you anticipate a delay, avoid surprises by communicating early and often.
- Extra Credit: There are no explicit extra credit opportunities. The project is designed with ample room for you to demonstrate excellence and go above and beyond the baseline requirements.
- Final Grade Scale: Your final point total will be converted to a letter grade based on the university's default grading scheme:
| Letter Grade | Range |
|---|---|
| A | 100% to 94% |
| A- | < 94% to 90% |
| B+ | < 90% to 87% |
| B | < 87% to 84% |
| B- | < 84% to 80% |
| C+ | < 80% to 77% |
| C | < 77% to 74% |
| C- | < 74% to 70% |
| D+ | < 70% to 67% |
| D | < 67% to 64% |
| D- | < 64% to 61% |
| F | < 61% to 0% |