I feel that regardless of modality (e.g., online, hybrid, or campus based) rubrics should be used as part of the feedback. They serve as a checks and balances system which ultimately helps prevent grade inflation or deflation.
Jay Familant
I find rubrics essential in order for me to be objective when scoring reports. This also allows for fair scoring from student to student and class to class.
I break down assignments into questions and let students know how many points each question, or even which part of each question, will earn.
With AIUs new Gen Ed rubrics, students also score points for presentation, grammar, and APA. Letting everyone know in advance how their work will be assessed reduces anxiety for the student and reduces appeals when a poor score is posted.
In addition, I incorporate the wording of the rubric into the feedback for the grade so the expectation is tied right in to the outcome.
Patrice,
You are right on! And, from your post I can see that your provide the rubric before students begin the assignment, not just at the end. Perfect.
I believe that a rubric provides a guideline for students when they are preparing their homework assignments. It allows the student to understand what is expected of them, and how they will be graded on these expectations.
Betsy,
I am so glad you mentioned the objectives/learning outcomes in conjunction with the rubrics. They must be aligned. I actually put the objectives on the rubric itself. This helps the students understand why they are doing what they are doing. Thanks!
Clear rubrics emphasize the objectives and learning outcomes of your course and give your online student the road map to how they will be evaluated - and what tools they can use to produce the quality work that they will be graded on.
This is critical for any course work, but even more so for an online class where the student needs immediate gudieance on a project, guidance on the standards for performance and facilitates independance they require.
Scott,
Good job. We do want to provide consistent and meaningful feedback to the students as we want to help them improve. Thanks for your input.
I would argue that consistent and "helpful" feedback are the key elements as to how it is important to use rubrics. Often, feedback is vague and may vary from student to student, but the rubric allows for not only consistency between students, but it also explains what was expected and how the student met that expectation, with the goal of improvement.
Vicki,
So, your assignments and your rubrics are provided to you? If so, you may ask students how they would suggest editing the rubrics and go at it that way. Maybe. . .
Hello,
I can't say I've tried that approach. I,m really looking for ways to motivate students to use the rubric.
In the environment I usually teach, assignments are preplanned, so creating an additional assignment as you mentioned is not a simplistic task. I would need to created the assignment outside of the format that is specificed, but I would like to find a way to utilize that approach.
Vicki,
Have you tried having students rate themselves using the rubrics and submitting that completed rubric before they submit their assignment? It "makes" them look at it and self-assessment, in my opinion, is always a good thing. Hope this is helpful. Thanks for your input.
I can say from experience, I have depended on my rubrics to clarify my assignments and grading criteria. Although I have to admit, many students don't read them. I usually have to refer to them when there is a question about a grade received.
I always stress in my classes that rubrics can be used as a tool to complete assignments as well as a reference. If students see that rubrics can be used as an aid in the classroom, I hope that it will generate more use.
I also think it is important that rubrics are simply stated and carefully address the main points of the assignments. When rubrics become too complex, student lose interest in using them. As a instructor that has observed both sides of the issues, I've found that many instructors tend to over complicate the content which results in students misunderstanding the criteria and the important points of the assignment.
Amy,
You are right. Rubrics should help students understand the expectations, but not stifle their creativity. Thanks for bringing up that point. Take care.
I think it is important that you pointed out "defining expectations". It is important for students to know what is expected of them; however, the rubric does not have to be so rigid as to lead them in the direction that they need to go go complete the assignment. For example, I teach social work theory. It is an exploratory class in which students apply theory to different situations and experiences. Their rubrics guide them in the expectations of the assignment related to the task; however, it does not tell them "how".
Dr. Glenn ,
Rubrics can provide formative and summative feedback and are essential for both students and the instructor. Thanks for your input.
Rubrics provide guidance for how instructions should be followed. In addition, rubrics are an excellent means to clarify formative feedback. Analytical rubrics divide learning objectives into functional sections to then provide a student with clear understanding for where improvement must be targeted. The importance for empowering the learing skills of the student must be targeted from the work submitted. I return students papers to them with analytical rubrics pasted at the end of the submitted paper. Then I tie balloons content connected to highlighted areas that need improvement. The rubric displays how the points are assessed for each area defined as formative feedback in the work returned.
George,
Right on! The rubrics help the students understand the expectations and help the instructor be more objective in their grading. I like that you mention the detailed feedback that can also be provided through the rubrics. Thanks!
Rubrics are indispensable in the classroom. The students understand what they are expected to learn and apply on each assignment. They will know what they will be graded on. Rubrics, in my opinion, should not be so restrictive as to drive or channelize the students’ learning particularly in my area – Business. Rubrics ensure a consistency of grading over time. I also think that with that, rubrics make grading less time consuming. I have found that the time spent in creating the rubrics is paying forward in the time it takes to fairly grade projects. Rubrics also emphasize the practice of detailed feedback on students’ strengths and weaknesses. Formative feedback, as per the instruction, does indeed anchor learning.
William,
I think rubrics are important no matter what the learning environment, but I follow your logic about them being more useful in the online environment as they help students understand the expectations and assist with consistent assessment. Thanks!
Rubrics are more useful in an online environment as they serve as a quick and thorough way to reinforce criticism and overall achievement. In a traditional setting, this can be done through verbal or quick written feedback. Since this is not possible online, rubrics are a great way to being precise and consistent.
