Use of Rubrics for Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning
As a graduate student, I found a rubric to be extremely helpful. I now use it as an instructor for my students.
When you develop your syllabus and on-line courses, do you implement a rubric?
How detailed is the rubric?
Do you send out reminders when certain projects or assignments are due?
Frances,
You can make them pretty broad or you may want to use a checklist that gives students that Laundry list of items that you expect without placing value on them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Gretchen,
I have found that using rubrics help my students in understanding exactly how the assignment will be graded and also gives them sufficient feedback that they understand why the assignment received the grade posted. I teach computer applications so I make my grading rubrics fairly well defined so that they will know what features should be used and what points are assigned. For a non-computer class, I think a grading rubric still works well and can have broader categories.
Louise,
You are right. It makes grading fair on both sides of the "coin"; the students know the expectations and should provide a product or action that meets that in turn, students know what the instructor is "looking" for. good post.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I also discovered the benefit of rubrics in graduate school.
I have found that using a rubric is essential in grading online. A good rubric can help guide students in successful completion of the assignment. A rubric can also help in student assessment and development. Whenever I make deductions on assignments, I state why and also tell the student to review the grading rubric. This reinforces that the grading was not merely subjective and helps provide consistency in the assessment of all students in the program.
Jeff,
I use rubrics for both f2f and online courses. It give students expectations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
rubrics are great ways to get the student to understand the expectations. I would use rubrics in an online situation.
Casey,
I agree with you! I don't believe in surprises for the students or me. Nice job.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Saundra,
Interesting, I tried it also. You have to develop a routine. That is important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Saundra,
It does make things easier and both you and the student know exact what each expects. Also, once the rubric is created all you just tweak it. Good job!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Michael,
Rubrics are great and they will provide a framework for students to work towards. Great answer.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I definitely use a rubric. The main purpose in me using a rubric is that my students will know exactly what I will be reviewing/grading them on. There will be no questions as to what my expectations are. It also helps me be consistent with my grading. I do also send out reminders when assignments are due. Again, I like to make sure that there are no surprises with my students so I try to consistently keep them informed.
I have experimented this term with weekly Announcements in which I briefly give a "hook" for what we will be learning and a list of what activities are due. None of my students have given me feedback and I won't receive my teaching evaluations for another three weeks so I don't know how this will be received.
I just used a rubric for the first time in grading papers this summer. I loved it! I felt as though my grading was less subjective and the students felt they understood the expectations. I made the rubric available to them when I distributed the assignment so they knew what was expected from the outset. I had far fewer questions from students which freed up time. Yes, developing the rubric took time but I believe it lessened my grading time considerably.
Gretchen,
As a gen ed teacher at the college level, a rubric for grading has been essential. It provides a type of feedback for the student and allows them to work within a parameter so assignments and exams do not seem too overwhelming.
Gretchen,
I do have a rubric that I have used that is really a peer assessment tool. It is really a good job of helping to evaluate my courses if I don't have a person do review my course.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
