Some Brief Assessment Ideas

Before we start:

Let’s face it…I grade a lot of papers!

I think it is really all about commitment to your students.

That said: Here are some ideas that I use.

Overall Ideas

I personally like using a rubric. Regardless of the class, I like to

use a quick grading sheet. This serves two big purposes:

1. I write a lot less

2. The students can clearly see what they are being graded on

Which Rubric?

For each class, my personal choice is to decide on the course goals and to carefully consider what I want the students to master and communicate.

Using these ideas, I create a grading rubric/hw cover sheet. Some are complex and some are quite simple.

Which Rubric?

Even students that have my classes term after term adjust (seemingly easily) to these changes.

College Algebra Rubric

This is a good story. It is the story of a rubric gone wrong.

Sandy shared with me a GREAT assessment system. Students are graded quite simply with

4 = E Exceptional3 = Q Quality

2 = I In Development1 = N Needs Rethinking

Rubric Failure

The 4.0 rubric seems pretty simple. We use a 4.0 grade scale all of the time.

4 = A, 3 = B, 2 = C, 1 = DHOWEVER

My brain doesn’t work that way.To me, 2 is 50% of 4.

Do you see the dilemma?

Rubric Resolution

At the beginning of the term I really struggled trying to assign E/Q/I/N scores in a meaningful way.

Eventually, I adapted a very detailed HW cover sheet that allowed me to use the system effectively and to communicate clearly with my students.

College Algebra Assessment Goals

The critical idea for my College Algebra class and for all of my classes is that I like my students to express their understanding by explaining, clearly and in “good form” how the mathematics works. Most of their homework problems read along the lines of:

Complete Task A and then explain why ______________

College Algebra CourseAssessment Components

Active work in class

Clear and complete homework presentations

Exams & Quizzes including peer quizzes, written exams

and an ORAL FINAL EXAM

College Algebra CourseAssessment References

For reference:Already filed in your notebook under College Algebra-Assessment

1. Course Syllabus2. E/Q/I/N Assessment Guide3. HW Cover (elaborate)4. Final (oral) Exam Procedures

College Algebra Assessment Examples

For reference:Already filed in your notebook under College Algebra-Student Work

1. Counting piece array problems2. Toothpick pattern problems

Abstract Algebra Assessment Overview

This is an abstract class for these students. The students in the course are fairly advanced relative to their peers. They tend to be very responsible and quite trustworthy.

I expected that these students would clearly explain and fully explore their homework.

Abstract Algebra CourseAssessment Components These students were graded on:

Active work in classClear and complete homework presentationsTake-Home Quizzes onlyTwo “lesson plan, worksheet” module creations for a final project.

Abstract Algebra Rubric Adaptation

HW & Quiz Assessment Guide With the new 10 point scale!

I used categories:Mathematical Correctness (10 pts)Explicitness & Completeness (10 pts)Presentation Conciseness (5 pts)Presentation Flow & Neatness (5 pts)

Abstract Algebra Assessment ReferencesFor reference:Already filed in your notebook under Abstract Algebra-Assessment

1. Course Syllabus2. Assessment Guide3. HW Procedures Guide4. HW Cover5. Final Project Directions

Abstract Algebra Assessment Examples

For reference:

Already filed in your notebook under Abstract Algebra-Student Work

Final Project Sample