Rubrics Empower Students
I believe that rubrics can empower students by providing specific guidelines and expectations. When you have it all spelled out in front of you it helps to alleviate stress that often times is associated with posting to public forums and boards.
Ed,
Rubrics haven't been around forever. I don't really remember them has a student either. But, so glad we have them now! Thanks!
I certainly cannot remember rubics as a student but i agree everyone knowing exactly whats the rules of engagement helps all parties complete assignments in a timely manner and understand what is needed to achieve the desired results.
Zac,
Yes - a "magic" tool that helps all involved. How wonderful! ;-)
I couldn't agree more. It alleviates stress on both sides of table. Both instructors and students benefit from a thorough and well designed rubric. The students know what is expected of them and what they need to do to earn a decent grade on their post. The instructor knows exactly how to grade a post and doesn't have to feel guilt for handing out a bad grade to a student who didn't follow the rubric.
Rachelle,
I didn't have rubrics when I was a student either and I remember feeling frustrated when I got a grade and had no idea why I got the grade I did. I think rubrics help reduce frustration for the students and instructors. Thanks!
Greetings:
I always ask my students if the Rubric is helpful and I always get a resounding "Yes." I always say if you know the rules you can play the game and if you don't you can't. I don't remember having Rubrics when I was in college. Often I felt like I was guessing what the Professor was looking for. The Rubric takes the guess work out of it and provides a roadmap for the student.
I instruct my students on how to use the Rubric. Often students think that the Rubric is just for the Instructor and provides a way for them to grade. They don't realize that the Rubric is a great tool for them to use. It helps keep them on track and reminds them of what will be graded and how it will be weighted.
I think the Rubric is empowering as it gives the student the tool they need to succeed.
Rachelle
Agnes,
From your posts, it seems that your instructors need more input in the online courses they teach. We have to make sure the rubrics align perfectly with the learning objectives. If they don't, they are poorly designed and do not help the instructor and students as they should. We are (aren't we?) trying to help students achieve the learning outcomes and properly designed rubrics play a key role in the process. Thanks!
I find that some rubrics are not well designed. Unfortunately, it is not always up to an instruction to re-design/revise the rubrics. In such instances, an instructor can communicate any issues to an Online Director.
Some criteria may be hard to grasp for some students. That is why I always briefly elaborate on the criteria a particular assignment will be graded on. My students find it very helpful.
Kym,
Glad you go above and beyond to develop your own rubrics. Know that benefits the students. Thanks.
My school does not give detailed rubrics so I go over their rubrics and call them high level, but then create detailed rubrics too. I email them to students to be sure they don't miss them on the announcement board.
Margarette,
UGH! I hear this so much and I hate it. If the rubrics don't have good criteria and they are not connected to the learning objectives, they are not useful. Keep trying to provide feedback to your institution and those that create the rubrics to make them better. You can even provide feedback from students and I'm sure they have comments as well. Thanks!
This is a problem I have. At one of the places I teach I am given rubrics to use, and *I* can't even figure out how they apply to assignments in my course.
When a rubric is so generic that it can be used for assignments in English class, math class, and all the classes in between, it's not going to be useful.
Not very empowering, then!
But in another place I teach, I create my own rubrics, and it truly is much more helpful
Donald,
I think you are referring to something other than rubrics, but maybe behavior would be included. What do you mean it's not at all clear that a rubric has instructural characteristics?
I would not be so bold as to suggest that a rubric empower students. Rather, I suggest that are rubric states what behavior is permitted, and what behavior is forbidden, I believe that an instructor empowers his or her students through the course of the instruction. In my opinion, it is not at all clear that a rubric has instructural characteristics.
Jennifer,
EMPOWER - what a great word! They have to understand that power and how it will help them achieve the learning outcomes. Thanks for bringing that to the conversation.
Russell,
It all comes down to the criteria. If the students can't understand them, they are not built well. If they are "canned" rubrics handed to instructors, many times they are not connected directly to the learning outcomes. This is an issue too.
I find that often students like rubrics, but some do not understand how to interpret them.
