Assessment Idea of the Month

Have Your Students Build the Rubric???

This is an interesting way to engage your students in self- assessment of their own work and delve deeper into qualities of a “Superior” assignment.

This classroom assessment technique (CATS) was presented at the IUPUI Assessment Institute 10/2006 by Deborah Schwartz, Associate Professor of English at Lourdes College in Ohio.

Here are the basic steps:

1. Choose an assignment or activity that needs a rubric developed.

2. Have the students break into groups of 3-4.

• Thoroughly explain the assignment; in this example the assignment was to assess an “introduction to a research paper”.
• Each group was given 3 questions to discuss and come to consensus, here are the questions:
• Read the sample research paper introduction; reflect on well written introductions. What are the characteristics of a well written intro?
• With your group, discuss the characteristics of a well written intro, pointing to examples in the text. Come to a consensus about 2 characteristics.
• Be prepared to participate in a large group discussion and consensus building to build a list of characteristics of a high quality research paper introduction.
• Be ready with a Rubric template you can put on an overhead or projector, Make sure to post the Course Outcome or Competency for that assignment on top of the rubric.
• If you are looking for ideas and templates for rubrics, access the Assessment Resources Blackboard Site, go to Classroom Assessment, rubric folder.
• The finished rubric can be used by the students to grade their own assignments, but be careful to include a grading component that allows you to evaluate their self-assessment.
  

Why do this?

• Students have more ownership in the assignment.
• They have constructed the rubric so they understand the assignment criteria and grading.
• Students work on teams and build critical thinking skills.
• Students self-assess.

Recommendation:
This exercise could be used for many types of assignments.
This CATs is recommended for more advanced students, not introduction or first semester classes.

For more information on Rubrics or this CATs, contact: