Rubrics: Measuring Student Success

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Rubrics Measuring Student Success

• Taking the guess-work out of assessment and
  conveying effective feedback!
• Zala Fashant

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Rubrics
A rubric articulates in writing the various
criteria and standards that a faculty member uses
to evaluate student work. It translates informed
professional judgment into numerical ratings on a
scale.Walvoord (2004)
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Rubrics
Rubrics is a way by which you can calibrate and
quantify your students assignment results. In
your mind, you know what you would consider an A,
a B, a C, etc.
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Rubrics
Rubrics use descriptions to demonstrate what you
expect in each of the skill sets you are
assessing by using a sliding scale.
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Competencies

• What are they?
• Why have them?
• How do they help faculty to teach?
• How do they help students learn?

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Competencies in Course Design

• When designing your course, competencies are the
  first things you consider.
• What do you want students to know and do as they
  leave your course that they couldnt when they
  walked in?

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Pop Quiz

• Now that I developed my course competencies...
  what should I do next?
• A. Write the assessments
• B. Design the activities
• C. Give the course a name

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Pop Quiz

• Now that I developed my course competencies...
  what should I do next?
• A. Write the assessments yes!
• B. Design the activities - nope
• C. Give the course a name anytime

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Assessments

• Why do I write the assessments next?
• Dont I do that at the end?
• Do it while your competencies are fresh in your
  mind.
• Your activities will take you from where the
  students enter to where you want them when they
  leave!

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How Do You Assess Written Work and Skill
Performance?
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Assessment
In writing and performance evaluation it is
better to keep the assessment as objective as
possible. In other words, take the guess-work
out! Tell the students what you expect of them
as you discuss the assignment.
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Assessment
Telling your students the standards by which you
are going to measure their achievement is done by
using
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Rubrics

• There are two main designs
• Holistic Rubrics consider all criterion together
  for one mark.
• Analytic Rubrics consider each criterion
  individually which can be kept separate or added
  together.

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Rubrics
Heres an example from an assignment you might
use in biology
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Rubrics
The assignment is to draw a grasshopper and label
the body parts. You want to assess the drawing
itself, the correct names of the body parts, the
overall professional standards of the assignment.
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Rubrics - Drawing
3 The drawing is close to scale. Shading shows
some texture on body. Parts look life-like. Use
of color is close to actual insect.
4 The drawing is nearly perfect to
scale. Shading shows texture on body. Parts
look life-like. Use of color matches actual
insect.
2 The drawing considers scale. Some texture is
added on body. Parts are recognizable and
clear. Some use of color adds to the quality of
the drawing.
1 The drawing uses little scale. There is
minimal or no texture on the body. Parts are
somewhat clear and recognizable. Little or no
color is used.
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Rubrics Naming of Parts
3 90 of parts are named correctly.
4 Parts are named correctly.
2 80 of parts are named correctly
1 Less than 80 of parts are named correctly.
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Rubrics Professional standards
3 Pride is work nearly meets high
standard. Labels are near professional
standards. Condition of assignment nearly
perfect and mounted to industry standards
4 Pride in work meets high standard. Labels meet
professional standards. Condition of assignment
is perfect and mounted to industry standards.
2 Pride in work is adequate. Labels meet minimum
standards. Condition of assignment shows
smudges, marks, or wrinkles and is mounted near
industry standards.
1 Pride in work needs improvement. Labels do not
meet minimum standards. Condition of assignment
shows mistreatment and mounting does not
articulate industry standards.
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Rubrics How When to Use
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Rubrics - Advantages

• Great way for students to self-evaluate the
  assignments they turn in.
• Display the instructors expectations prior to the
  work being done.
• Keep the evaluation about objective and
  measurable skills and concepts not personal.

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Rubrics - Advantages

• Set a professional tone for students.
• Provide support for the grade the student has
  earned.
• Others?

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Rubrics - Advantages

• Timely/detailed feedback to students
• Encourage critical thinking
• Facilitate communication
• Refine teaching skills
• Levels the playing field with diverse students
• Stevens (2005)

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Rubrics - Drawbacks

• Take a while to create
• May need to be revised as you modify assignments.
• Slower grading at first.
• Others?

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In Conclusion
By creating your rubrics to match the level of
your expectations for your competencies, you may
find that you have more students reaching the
highest standards.
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In Conclusion
Your K-12 Colleagues have used rubrics for years.
Students are used to them and most of them
really like what they communicate.
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Text and Online Resources
http//www.ctl.mnscu.edu/events/webseminars/rubirc
selectronicresourcelist.pdf
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Contact Information
Zala Fashant Center for Teaching and
Learning zala.fashant_at_so.mnscu.edu 651-649-5745