Just because a system has been in place for a long time, does not mean it’s the best method by which to reach an end. Such is the case with assessing learning  and how we fundamentally teach. Grades and tests often frequent the systems of assessing information learned by students. In reality, studies show that such methods widely encourage memorization and rote learning, which decrease the amount of information gained or truly learned in a proper “deep learning” fashion. We rely on systems that aren’t properly fitted to teach individual students, to teach vast swaths of students, even though the system frequently leaves students with holes in their knowledge that greatly impair future learning. We need to change this, by avoiding the wide usage of tests as determinate for grades and through the use of better assessment models, such as through student self assessment.