Sodang,
AND, the rubric helps the instructor be more consistent in their grading. It should help everyone involved.
Thanks for your input.
A rubric is used to give students clear expectations and help set communication and collaboration among students and instructors.
Daron,
Rubrics are designed (good ones!) to help the students and the instructors. Thanks for your input.
I like the idea behind the rubric rule because guidelines for educational grading need to be consistent so each student is graded fairly. In saying this I see several circumstances in the online class that make it a struggle to maintain the rubric 100%. However a set rubric makes explaining reasons for loss of points concrete and what the expectations for the work is clearly stated in the assignment.
Rick,
We may have been in the same class way back when. ;-) I have "grown up" in my teaching with rubrics as well. Just like - I used project-based learning before they named it project-based learning. Ha!
David,
They do serve as a communication tool. Many don't think about rubrics or the syllabus as communication tools but they are.
They communicate the expectation, learning outcomes, etc. Thanks!
Rick,
That is right. Rubrics help everyone involved. When the students understand the expectations, they are more likely to understand how to achieve them. Thanks!
Robert,
Good explanation. Rubrics hels everyone involved - students and instructors.
Thanks for your input.
Debra,
AND, rubrics assist the instructor as well. Rubrics help all stakeholders involved.
Thank you.
Debra,
WOW! Thanks for the detail in this information. It will benefit many of you who visit this forum.
Nice job.
Rubrics communicate consistent, organized feedback about the clarity and quality of a given post or communication. The rubric is the objective voice of the course. A robric is a communication tool. It is not by itself a fully effective means of communicating becasue it does not provide explanation, guidance, or encouragement.
I have been in education 28 years and in my undergraduate teaching program clear back in the late 1970's- rubrics were discussed and encouarged. Maybe I was fortunate to be in an education preparation program in which rubrics were encouraged.
Rubrics can be used to benefit both the instructor and the student. First and foremost, a rubric is a guideline for the student to determine the direction and focus and effort necessary to achieve the desired outcome. I think the rubric also helps hold the student accountable and is a form of communication in terms of expectations from the instructor.
A rubric is also helpful for the instructor. Where are students continually struggling with the assessment- if they are struggling? Are there ways to improve the assessment tool? As educators, we can not remain stagnant and assume our assessment tool and rubric are "perfect."
The role of the rubric is double:
1. it is a communication tool, providing students with a directional framework on how they are supposed to work, behave and what is expected from them
2. it is an assessment tool. By providing guidelines, they help the instructor to assess if students are complying with the expectations highlighted and communicated in the rubric.
The role of a rubric has been to provide students with guidelines to measure specific elements of an assignment. In essence, it serves as a benchmark for students if used appropriately.
Sample Grading Rubric for DB Assignments
“A Rangeâ€
(18-20 Points)Met the criteria for the correct responses to the questions assigned (qualitative and quantitative).
Provided a 4-5 paragraph analysis of each discussion question. (Please present very thorough paragraphs—quality is important.)
Used vocabulary relevant to the current week's topics—at least five terms.
Justified ideas and responses by using appropriate examples and references from texts, Web sites, and other references or personal experience.
Presented a structured report free of spelling and grammatical errors and cited sources in APA format when necessary.
Participated in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with rationale, challenging a point of discussion, or making a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.
Posted a link that was related to a concept or principle studied in the current week. Participated 4-5 days per week.
Commented on at least 2 peer postings for each graded thread. Included references when applicable.
___________________________________________________________________________
“B-C Rangeâ€
(14-17 Points) Marginally met the criteria for the correct responses to the questions assigned (qualitative and quantitative).
Provided a 3-4 paragraph analysis of each discussion question. (Please present very thorough paragraphs—quality is important.)
Used vocabulary relevant to the current week's topics—at least three terms.
Justified ideas and responses by using appropriate examples and references from texts, Web sites, and other references or personal experience
Presented a structured report with 2 minor spelling and grammatical errors and cited sources in APA format when necessary.
Participated in the discussion by asking a question, providing a statement of clarification, providing a point of view with rationale, challenging a point of discussion, or making a relationship between one or more points of the discussion.
Participated 3 days per week.
Commented on at least 2 peer postings for each graded thread. Included references when applicable.
___________________________________________________________________________
“D†Range
(12-13 Points ) Minimally provided a 2-3 paragraph analysis of each discussion question. (Please present very thorough paragraphs—quality is important.)
Used vocabulary relevant to the current week's topics—at least three terms.
Justified ideas and responses by using appropriate examples and references from texts, Web sites, and other references or personal experience.
Presented a structured report with major spelling and grammatical errors and cited sources in APA format when necessary.
Participated 1 day per week.
Commented on at least 1 peer postings for each graded thread. Included references when applicable.
___________________________________________________________________________
“F†Range (0-11 Points)
Failed to provide an answer to all required discussion board questions.
Participated only 1 day with minimal to no postings to peers or follow up questions.
Alan,
Right. Consistency and a deeper understanding of the expectations are excellent advantages of rubrics. Tha is for your input.
Dena,
Excellent. It is good to revisit the definition. Keep up the good work.
Dr. Kevin,
Yes, we all drift from time to time and especially after grading many, many assignments. So, it is nice to have the consistency in grading. Thanks.
Ann,
Yes, this is a good summary. Tha is for you input and for continuing the conversation about rubrics.
