This work is supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) collaboration between the Directorates for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and Geociences (GEO) under grant DUE - 1125331

RubricsProfessional Development Webinar

The webinar begins at: 10 am PST | 11 am MST | 12 pm CST | 1 pm EST

For audio, call: 1-800-704-9804 (or 1-404-920-6604 if you cannot use the toll free number)

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Rubric Webinar Leaders

Josh Caulkins InTeGrate Assessment Team

Kaatje KraftMesa Community College Geology Faculty

Goals of this webinar

• Describe how rubrics can support student learning.

• Identify key elements in a rubric that are useful for a given assignment.

• Start drafting rubrics for assessments in your own courses

From the Curriculum Development rubric:

Learning Objectives & GoalsInstructions and/or rubrics provide guidance for how students meet learning goals

Assessment and MeasurementAssessments are criterion referenced

From survey responses:• All of you have at least some experience with rubrics, to mixed

levels of success for:– Writing assignments– Homework assignments– Class projects

• Challenges with rubrics:– The translation between instructor goals and actual outcomes aren’t

always matched– Students don’t read them

• Benefits of rubrics:– Streamlines the grading process– Makes expectations clear for students– Reflects the values of an assignment (where should the emphasis be)

What is a rubric?

• Concise criteria for an assignment/project (in writing)

• Makes explicit the instructors expectations for the students

• Helps instructor develop clear learning objectives

The key?• Rubrics MUST be specific for the assignment

– Have clear and measurable learning objectives for your assignment

– Use language that students understand– Provide models for students to apply the

rubric/have practice with the rubric– Avoid non-measurable terms (e.g., imaginative,

creative)– Can be numeric specific or general ranges

Mystery Box Activity

Did student self-evaluate their essay (complete the rubric [+1] and justify with an explanation on back/at end of paper [+2])? Yes No

Integrates explanation with consideration (and possible refutation) of alternative explanations

Integrates explanation with some consideration of alternative explanations

Alternate explanations addressed, but not clearly integrated

Mentions alternate explanations

No alternate explanations

Points on the x-axis

Content components on the y-axis

Example AssignmentBlack Canyon City (BCC) Application Exercise• Context: Your friend comes to you excited about a new investment possibility. The

growth potential in the BCC area (Arizona) is growing rapidly, and there is a proposal to put up high scale developments on the bluffs overlooking the town. They ask if you want in on the investment from the ground up. Is this a sound investment? Why or why not?

• Content Requirements: Based on your knowledge from the La Ventana Landslide system, determine what recommendations you'd make by making an advisement "report," including the following:

• An overview of the geology of the region.• The possibility of mass wasting movement and what type.• What factors might contribute to movement and what evidence you have to support

those claims.• How increased development might affect this system.• Possible mitigation options (if any are appropriate).• What you recommend your friend to do with your money and his/her own.

Peer Review

• Having students use the rubric to do a peer review results in:– A stronger final product– Students learning more from each other– Engaging with the rubric prior to the final draft– Engage in an authentic scientific process

Peer Review of a variety of the final rubric

Generalized categories

Actions to engage withpaper

Non-point values allows for more flexibility in weighting categories

Simple Rubrics• Rubrics can be for very quick and basic

assignments• Example: Reading Reflection (reading assignment

outside of class)– Easy to grade– Provides feedback for students on how/where to

improve.

Simple Rubrics• Rubrics can be for very quick and basic

assignments

Reading Reflection Rubric

Geology Mapping Rubric

Tips and considerations• Rubrics can always be better with revision• There will always be exceptions within a rubric• Allow students options for revision will make

them improve their writing and will then read your feedback

• Rubrics can also be used for oral presentations, short answer responses, concept maps, etc…