Free Standing Structure

1
Free Standing Structure

• Work in groups of three or four to build a free
  standing structure using specified materials
  (i.e., straws, paper clips, straight pins, and
  masking tape). After constructing your building,
  use the ruler to measure its height in
  centimeters. The goal of the task is to build
  the tallest structure while spending the least
  amount of money on materials. Students record
  strategies and calculations.

2
A Rubric is

• An established set of criteria for scoring or
  rating student responses on assessment tasks
  where the response is more involved than
  selecting an answer from a prescribed list. Good
  scoring rubrics minimize the biases inherent in
  human judgment.
• Holistic rubrics focus on an overall process or
  product without evaluating component parts.
• Analytic rubrics evaluate each attribute of a
  task or process on a continuum of poor to
  excellent work.

3
Developing a Scoring Rubric

• Decide whether you are assessing processes or
  products.
• Identify either dimensions of performance or
  aspects of the product that reflect the learning
  outcomes of the task.
• Weigh dimensions in proportion to their
  importance and develop levels of performance.
• Determine the range of points to be allocated to
  each level of performance.
• Determine how students will receive criteria for
  evaluation of their performance and how students
  will give and receive feedback.

4
Group Rubric

• Create a rubric based on the objectives of the
  task and instructions given for building the free
  standing structure. Your rubric may be holistic
  or analytic. Use the design steps to help you
  decide the dimensions of performance and point
  values allotted to each level of performance.