The role of a rubric is to provide a clear, specific, and concise assessment. It allows for clear expectations and assignment requirements. This provides quality standards and allows for students to fully understand the areas in which they may need to work on or further develop. It provides a great deal of help for instructors in grading discussions and assignments.
Melissa,
Excellent. Thank you for bringing up the point that rubrics help students and instructors, not just one or the other.
Thanks!
The rubric serves as a check and balance system based on the feedback that you provide in the students' assignments. The rubric justifies the grade and proves that there is not an arbitrary process involved. In addition, the use of rubrics help reduce grade inflation as well as grade disputes. Why are some faculty still opposed to use a rubric when the benefits outweigh the disadvantages?
Jay
Jay,
The key is that the rubrics help not only the instructor, but the student as well. They help students understand the expectations and tie the assignment to the learning outcomes. I think many times faculty have had experiences with rubrics being created for them and the rubrics were not designed well and they think, then, that rubrics are not effective. They may have also not had the opportunity nor took the time to create their own rubrics. Thanks again.
The rubric provides students with structure, expectations, and orientation. When students follow the rubric that's set in place for assignments it gives them a clear idea and clear direction of what's expected and needed to ensure maximum results and success on any given assignment. It also works as a check system for instructors when grading. This way it clears up any confusion about an assigned grade.
Anthony
Anthony,
Ahhh - structure. Many people need it and many people love it. Plus, as you have noted, there are many other benefits of rubrics as well. Thank you.
The role of the rubric is to provide a clear consistent way of communicating how an assignment is graded. The rubric articulates what the key components of the assignment are and how component is graded and evaluated it clearly articulates the weight and the expected results.
Rubrics have two major purposes:
1. Develop the objectives/criteria for an assignment.
2. Assess the students progress toward those learning objectives.
Kurt
Christopher,
Yes, AND rubrics help the instructors as well. Don't forget about that.
Thank you.
Kurt,
No only do they "develop" the objectives/criteria, they help the students understand those things and understand what is expected of them. Thanks again.
In math and Algebra, we have individual projects for two of the five units, so the student has to solve a set of problems for each of this projects. They work individually on them. We have a rubric for each one. Also, there are five discussion board statements, one for each week. The rubrics do two things;
1. Explain the point breakdown so the student knows how he/she will be graded and the instructor knows how to grade.
2. Further describe the problem/discussion item so the student has a further understanding of what is to be done. This explanation is more a quick summary of what the instructor has already explained, either in a chat session or via postings to the classroom or both.
The role of the rubric is to both make clearer what is to be done and to make clear how the project/discussion item will be graded.
Donald,
You describe the setting well. This impacts how the rubrics are used and the benefits to students and the instructors. Thanks!
To provide guidelines for the student to help them with outcomes and goal for the assignment. I think rubrics are an excellent way to show students what you are looking for and it also shows them how to get the best score possible.
amanda,
Ensuring the students understand the course expectations is essential in helping them be successful. Keep the students engaged and help the students succeed.
Hello,
I find rubrics helpful, especially in English, because once I "rate" a paper, the point system helps me to determine the disconnect in the student's work and the lesson material. Then, my comments can show them the how to connect.
Dr. Vessel
Of course a rubric should be used to keep the assessment from being subjective. However, I believe that is it also used to improve teaching and act as a source of information for program improvement. I personally use them to make sure everything in my course is as it should be!
I agree with the rubric role as it helps students gain a better understanding of their learning through the assessment process.
Cynthia,
Nice way to use rubrics. We are so blessed to have one tool that helps both teachers and students.
Thanks!
Jeremy,
Right on. Every tool we use should provide students and US feedback so that they and we can improve. Nice job.
Mary,
AND they benefit the instructor as well. Thanks for your input in this forum.
