Lynn,
BUT, don't forget the many ways rubrics help students as well. It's a tool that helps all involved. Thanks!
A rubric should give the students a guideline on how to answer their discussion questions. It should answer what is expected of them, and how their answers may be graded. An effective rubric should show the students how to obtain the maximum number of points for the discussion at hand.
A rubric helps the instructor to remain consistency.
Jonida and Nicole,
Thanks for continuing the conversation. We do need to work to help students understand what they are doing and how they will be assessed. Thanks!
Dwayne,
It is so important to connect the rubrics to the objectives. Students must understand (hence - as you say - transparent) the expectations to move toward them. Thanks!
Nicole,
This is a great answer. Students will always know how they are being evaluated.
The rubric needs to set the objectives and outcomes for the course. It standardizes the evaluation and makes the process more simple and transparent for students. Rubrics also provide specific criteria and a focus on the objectives through a range of performance metrics.
Thank you,
Dwayne Roark
Flora,
Yes, rubrics provide guidelines that help the students understand the expectations. Thanks!
Lori,
Ah yes - a guideline. That's a great term to use when describing rubrics. Using the term "Holy Grail" - I'm guessing your generation. :-) Thanks!
The main role of the rubric is to set up guidelines for assessing the different parts of the course. By sharing this rubric with the students, they are aware of the requirements they need to fulfill to successfully complete the course. Also, by identifying and stating the course objectives in the rubric, the students can clearly see how their learning objectives were fulfilled in the course.
The rubric is a guideline to follow for assessing the work of the student. It is the Holy Grail of grading but I have had several courses where the rubric is too vague and I am very flexible with my grading. When I'm evaluated at the end of the course I have been told on several occasions that I am not deducting enough points. I try to explain that the rubrics are too vague and by deducting points isn't fair to the students when the rubric doesn't state all of the information that's needed. Very frustrating.
Tonya,
Connecting the course objectives to the rubrics are essential! I even just list them in the rubric so students see how the objectives are connected to the assignment/project. Nice job.
It provide an exact way for instructors to grade based on course objectives. It also allows students to connect course objectives to the work for which they are completing (sets expectations). Ultimately, it takes "some" of the subjectivity out of grading but not all.
Janette,
Yes, thanks for bringing that up. The rubrics do help instructors in their grading for sure. Thanks again for your input.
James,
Excellent. You make the great point that rubrics help both students and instructors. The consistency provided by the rubrics is great.
Margarette and Nancy,
It's nice to know others have the same experiences and go through what we do. The comments on the rubrics are very helpful as well as the criteria. Nice job.
A rubric allows me to have something substantive to say to each student. Often, when I'm in the midst of grading a number of assignments, it becomes labor intensive to say the same things over and over.
A rubric allows me to make the same relevant comments to each student quickly.
It also helps keep me on track toward grading everyone equally. It provides the student with a visual justification for their grade as well.
I believe the role of a rubric is to help establish a set of expectations for both the students and the teacher. Students can learn what constitutes differing levels of achievement and success in their work, as well as learn to apply what they have learned in order to achieve future success. Teachers can provide accountability for their point additions and deductions, which will establish both consistency and transparency in an academic setting.
Nancy,
We seem to have similar experiences when it comes to rubrics! I was leery of them earlier in my teaching career (I can honestly say I was never given a rubric in college), but now I rely on them.
Students appreciate knowing exactly what is expected of them.
I copy the rubrics and hand them back, check marked, with copious comments, with papers (I teach writing), and students can easily see where their strengths and weaknesses are.
Margarette
F. Javier,
OMG - You have to try rubrics. They provide guidelines for the students so they understand the expectations and the assist instructors in assessing their students. Thanks!
