Michelle,
The key is that rubrics help students and instructors. Thanks.
Thomas,
Right on. This is the benefit of rubrics.
I did respond to this and strongly feel that rubrics provide a road-map for students to have an understanding of what is required for their project. I always encourage my students to review them and open them prior to submitting any of their assignments. They then know exactly what they have to do in order to receive what grade....it is then really up to them...I post each rubric on their paper as well as provide them with track changes for all of their work...
Theresa
I find rubrics highly advantageous. A particular advantage of analytical rubrics is the ability it gives students to analyze separate components of their work.
Analytic rubrics are structured and well defined. By breaking the assignment down into sections it communicates to the student specific areas in which they did well, and where improvements might be needed. I agree that the rubric can be time consuming during the development phase, but once complete it allows the instructor to provide a consist method for assessment.
Rebecca,
I agree with you. I also think we have to be careful that we are not allowing our students to use their critical thinking skills to solve a problem. Sometimes I think a Rubric limits creativity. That doesn't stop me from using it, I just need to be aware of it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hello Dr. Wilkinson; the MAX Knowledge learning series is wonderful. This is my fourth course and plan to take many more.
As we learned in the written lecture Unit 1, the typical advantages of using analytic rubrics revolve around creating a quantifiable/ understandable/implementable (if that's a word) standard; using specific areas of feedback to guide the student toward the learning objectives. It's a fair way to assess student's work. I don't think we as teachers can be absolutely neutral and objective all of the time for every one; therefore the benefit is raised using analytical rubrics. If students preview the analytical rubric and strive to meet expectations, grading criteria lends more objectivity, substance, and a weighted point system to accommplish learning objectives.
I'll extrapolate on the "fairness" principle. I have a personal grading code of ethics.
I limit the papers I grade in one setting. I grade only four; then I take a break, it could be 15 minutes if I am under the gun or it could be 4 hours. We instuctors can become a little bored if assessing the same concepts over and over for hours. Do you agree?
Laura,
Great answer! Do you create your own rubrics?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Analytic rubrics are used to break assignment grading into separate components. For example, an assignment will have different categories for which points are assigned: Delivery of Requirements, Coding Standards, Coding Documentation, Execution of program (runtime), Efficiency (code elegance). These categories would range from unsatisfactory, satisfactory, good, and excellent, with increasing point values. Using the categories and point values the instructor would grade each student's submission and assignment points per category and then add the total for the assignment grade. The advantage of this method is that the grading has been standardized for the assignment. Student can review the rubric prior to submitting their assignment for better understanding of how their assignment will be graded. It will also speed up grading and feedback for the instructor.
Julie,
That is correct, how do you as an educator benefit from using a rubric?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I think that Rubrics provide the student a better understanding of where the points are being allocated for the assignment.
