Rubric objectify how a course is graded. They should be specific and present the grading as professionally and not personally oriented.
Rubrics can be very useful in the class. They guide students regarding assignment requirements and expectations, and they provide a guide for the instructor to help ensure grading accuracy and consistency.
Using rubrics in a class ensures that students know the instructor is assessing all students based on the same criteria. Having used rubrics, I have also found that as an added benefit, if a student should attempt to appeal a grade based on inconsistency or being "unfair" to a particular student, whomever at your university reviews grade appeals will find it much easier to review the course to ensure that all students were assessed consistently.
Lyn ,
Excellent! Everyone benefits from rubrics - that is for sure. They can help students improve through the use of this tool. Nice job.
Dawn,
I love your statement ". . .it allows for teaching opportunities through the process of grading." Right on! Evaluation is not something we do TO students, but WITH students. Thanks!
Hi all, a rubric gives both the instructor and student a clearly stated set of standards for evaluation. It shows how course outcomes will be assessed.
Students can see what they need to focus on and how many points are assessed for each part of the rubric for each assignment.
Instructors can then apply the rubrics consistently for all students and provide feedback specifically for each part of the rubric. This helps students to improve on upcoming assignments. It shows both their strengths and areas for improvement.
My university use rubrics for all of our assignments, and I base my grading / feedback on the rubrics. Lyn Hoffmann
A rubric’s role is to provide goals and direction and overall criteria for the student. It is an important tool in the professor’s toolbox, as it allows for teaching opportunities through the process of grading.
Thank you,
Dawn
Amy,
There are many benefits rubrics being to the students. Don't forget the benefits they bring to the instructor as well. Thanks!
Rubrics are tool in which to provide feedback. It also helps standardize expectations and evaluation. Many students have questions of what is expected of them. Sometimes, these expectations can produce feelings of anxiety. If the student knows what we as instructors expect, their quality of work may be better.
Cynthia,
The rubric does help students understand the expectations. This also helps them work toward the objectives and be more successful. Thanks for your input.
I think the role of the rubric is to have guidelines for the discussions in the online community. Students must understand what is expected of them and what types of behaviors are discouraged or prohibited. Having clear expectations offers a set of rules and guidelines that acts as a value statement. These values translate to a grade, and therefore measures their success.
Christine,
And, don't forget, the rubrics help the instructor as well. There are many benefits for students, but consider those for instructors too. Thanks!
The role of the rubric is to create a standardized guide of expectations for a particular assignment and how it will be assessed. It helps to create an itemized breakdown to clarify to the student what is needed and what may be missing or needs improvement when the assignment is given a particular grade. A rubric can also aid the instructor in maintaining consistency in grading for each individual student.
Jennifer,
The words rubrics and guidelines are used so many times when referencing each other. Thanks for your input.
They provide clear guidelines on how students will be assessed and should be linked to the assignment goals/objectives/outcomes.
Valerie,
Great points! I like that you note that this is a quality assessment tool and that is helps both the instructor and the students. Nice job.
A rubric is a quality assessment tool used to evaluate student learning. It allows instructors to provide explicit feedback that is learning-centered and less subjective.
Written description for each level/criterion should be clear and concise so that students can clearly understand the expectations.
Rubrics provide students with more informative feedback about their strengths and areas that need improvement than traditional forms of assessment.
Veronica,
Rubrics provide assistance for the students and the instructor, you're right! What a great thing - a tool that helps everyone. Thanks for your input.
I think that rubrics are vital as it pertains to discussion boards. Rubrics provide guidance and direction. It is always great to have specific grading criteria that is each student understands. Rubrics is very beneficial to instructors as it pertains to grading. Again, the role of a rubric is very necessary and benefits the student and the instructor.
Michael,
"Optimal" is a good word to use when describing rubrics. Rubrics should, as you said, provide students with clear guidelines so there is nothing to question. Thanks!
Rubrics provide optimal guidance on the expected objectives and how to achieve specified outcomes for the students. I find that the Rubric leaves nothing to question, when it comes to how, e.g., a grade was earned but it also demonstrates an instructor’s methodology which helps to provide insight to the student on expectations and how to achieve them.
