Labor-based grading: for many instructors in the world of distance learning this is a new concept, yet it is one that is rapidly growing in acceptance and popularity. First introduced in 1993 by English professor Peter Elbow, the premise of labor-based grading is that instructors weigh assignments based on how much labor--how much "effort"--students put into their work, rather than assigning grades based on a points-based rubric or work quality. This column is divided into two sections: (1) specifics relating to the student; (2) specifics relating to the instructor: together, this information will give a solid preparation for teaching a labor-based grading course.