Angela,
Loving those rubrics! And, you are so right in that rubrics benefit all involved - students and instructor. Thanks for your input.
The rubric is a great tool not only for the student but also for the instructor. It's purposes and roles include:
- sets a standard for the assignment
- creates a grading expectation
- establishes fair criteria to be measured against
- creates a checklist for students to measure their work against prior to submitting
- streamlines grading (makes it faster and more efficient)
Maureen,
Knowing what to expect is "half the battle." When we communicate the expectations, students do a better job. Thanks!
Calvin,
Rubrics do all these things. And, you're right in that it's a tool that helps teachers and students. Nice job.
It clearly shows the student what they can make as their 100 (discussion question is 30) so if they make 24 and I say, respond to your peers and I will increase your grade, they know what to expect. After a while they know it automatic.They like make the top grade so simplifies instructors from having to explain.
I like rubrics because I can then say, "you need to watch your spelling, use spell check and do corrections so they can see what they did wrong.
Rubrics are important because they clarify for students the qualities their work should have. This point is often expressed in terms of students understanding the learning target and criteria for success. For this reason, rubrics help teachers teach, they help coordinate instruction and assessment, and they help students learn.
Coleen,
Sure, the rubric used as a checklist is very helpful to the students. I appreciate you continuing the conversation.
Thanks!
Coleen,
Any time we can connect a tool to fairness in evaluation is a plus. The rubric, as you said, helps all involved - the students and the instructor. Thanks!
Hi Dr. Molnar,
I like that you pointed out the rubric can be used as a checklist for students prior to submitting an assignment or discussion post. Like you, I believe the rubric helps to ensure we are grading each student in a consistant and fair method. Great post!!
The rubric helps promote fairness in grading as each student is graded on the same criteria as set forth in the rubric. The rubric also helps the instructor because it shows where each student’s strengths and weaknesses lay which can be used as a focus to provide additional help in these areas.
Michael,
Yes, and that clear delineation is important to the students and the instructor. I like the word "precious" when you are describing their time. Nice job.
Matt,
I agree, they do have multiple roles. And, it's so nice that one tool can help the students and the instructor in such great ways. Nice job.
Paulette,
Anything to reduce misunderstandings and to improve the communication is worth the time and effort. Thanks for the input.
Dr. Crews, in addition to removing subjectivity from grading, the rubric also clearly delineates the expectations for the assignment, and this is vitally important when you consider the fact that in an online course, often times, there are students from many different time zones participating in the course, so they need that great clarity for the precious time they spend on their assignment responses. Thank you. Mike Crowley
I think rubrics have multiple important roles in the online classroom.
First, they make it clear how a student's work will be assessed so that the student knows this when creating the work.
Second, they provide clear and consistent expectations relative to what elements should be included in the student's submissions.
Finally, they provide a means of giving the student feedback in a way that it is of no surprise since the student knew in advance that his or her submission would be assessed with the use of the rubric.
Dr. Crews,
Indeed it reduces misunderstanding and I found that students perform better when objectives are clearly explained to them.
Even though rubrics for assignments are in the syllabus, I clearly detail the rubric's grading criteria for each assignment in a weekly announcement.
It also gives me an opportunity to post a weekly greeting to the students, congratulate them on their performance on the previous week's assignment and re-invite them to e-meet me at the next live chat where I address the content of the current week's assignment. During the live chat I encourage them to review the rubric again before completing the assignment.
Sueanne ,
Clear, concise and consistent - all key words to describe a rubric. It describes communication too and rubrics are a part of our communication of the expectations to the students. Thanks!
Paulette and Chris,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. Clarity in any situation is empowering, but especially with assessment and evaluation.
Paulette,
I like that "same page." When we are both there, we can move everyone forward toward the learning objectives.
For students it provides a clear statement of what is expected, how their work will be evaluated and what constitutes minimal, good and exceptional. For Instructors it provides a method for consistent evaluation and identifies students who consistently meet only minimal who need additional guidance.
