Rubrics
I have found rubrics to be extremely helpful in my online classes. Not only does it provide students with clear cut guidelines on what is expected of them, it keeps me on track with grading consistently as well. Thus when I communicate back to my students as to why they received a certain grade, I can do that more clearly and refer them back to the rubric.
Joe,
Me too! Rubrics are one of these tools that help both the student and the instructor. Thanks!
I am a big fan of rubrics. I think they are not only a good assessment tool, but also a good teaching tool. teaching to the rubric during the content lesson can demonstrate different examples of good, fair, and poor work. Doing this has helped in the quality of assignments my students are turning in.
Sue,
Glad you are using them now to help students understand the expectations and grade fairly. Thanks for your input.
I also did not like to use rubrics, but they have been incredibly helpful! It keeps me on track with student expectations and provide a simple method for students to understand why they received that particular grade.
Rolando,
I like teaching with no surprises. Keep providing the rubrics and communicating with the students.
Without a question, providing rubrics for assignments the first day of class is an essential not only for students but to the facilitator. It assists students to plan assignments as well as how to excel, it minimizes “grade surprisesâ€, diminishes unnecessary emails—win-win situation… Excellent way to communicate… Rolando
Albert,
When providing feedback, some assignments/projects take longer to provide feedback than others. Try not to assign all assignments/projects that take too much time to provide feedback as students will not get timely feedback.
I actually agree with you but I try to go through every paper to find every “mistake†or “misunderstandingâ€... given the amount of time for my feedback.
The mistake that is made by some evaluators is that a redline is an assignment error. I use my bold face to suggest alternatives, better ideas, other approaches, other views ... and I do NOT remove points for these suggestions.
I am a "longer lived" (politically correct, right) person, and I remember the red marks which meant a loss of points. However, I use the red marks to suggest how to improve communication and to enhance critical thinking.
For me critical thinking and better communication skills are two most important objectives of an successful education experience.
Craig,
Effective rubrics do help answers questions as the expectations should be clearly laid out. Thanks for your input.
I think the use of Rubrics is very useful, particularly in an online course. I use Rubrics to communicate what is expected and then reference the different items in the rubric when providing feedback in grading assignments. That really has helped with questions and the understanding for what was wrong or what was right on the assignment.
Dale,
Im glad yo uhave changed you mind. Many times when I run up against someone who hates rubrics it's because they've never used a good one. The criteria, standards, and connection to the objectives are essential. Thanks!
Ellen,
I use to hate the use of rubrics, but I have changed and I think they should be a part of every assignment. When you have clear rubrics to follow it takes away the some of the subjectivity.
Alexander,
I think there is a place and time for rubrics. As we have stated before, the content, students and level of the course many times determine assessment needs. Thanks for sharing.
I am a full time professor and also an attorney. I get my students to think so critically their heads hurt at the end of class and I do not use rubrics to assess their deliverables for the reasons I stated in my previous posts. Rubrics are no more objective or better at assessing student work than providing clear course and assignment expectations.
Some subjects cannot be assessed using a rubric as the answer to the question is either right or wrong. And, standardized rubrics (which many schools/departments are attempting to implement) cannot be applied equally because not all faculties are equal in talent and knowledge causing inconsistencies in their application. This is one of the down sides when trying to apply 6 Sigma principles to academia. Faculty and students are not widgets.
It appears this is a point we will not see eye to eye on. Regardless, this discussion has been interesting.
Alexander,
Wow - sounds like you have some strong feelings. I am a tenured professor, published and know my content and I still make my students think critically AND use rubrics to assess their work. Thanks for your input.
'
Unlike today, the majority of my professors were tenured, published, experts in their field. Yes, I'm old enough to remember those days. My professors went through each paper and red lined any good points, mistakes or suggested improvements. Classes were smaller and professors were not burdened with the administrative "stuff" we do now, including this training.
And, the majority of my grades were determined on a midterm and/or final and a final writing assignment. That's it. None of this weekly assignment make work baloney we see in the online environment. That's so high school.
I thank god I was taught critical thinking and that my professors DID NOT use a rubric to assess my work.
Alexander,
Wow! Sad no one was educated enough to use rubrics.
David,
David,
Agreed. Thanks.
Dr. Tena B. Crews
Dawn ,
Dawn ,
Right in. Rubrics help us all.
Dr. Tena B. Crews
