Part II The Power of Rubrics: Assessment as a Guide to Learning

The Power of Rubrics:
Assessment as a Guide to Learning

Wednesdays, July 15, 22, 29 1-2 pm Eastern

Bonnie Mullinix and Steve Ehrmann The TLT Group

The more transparent the learning objectives and expectations, the greater the likelihood that learners will achieve them. Rubrics are designed to do just this.  Well designed, rubrics can serve as clear guides to assessment and effective tools for promoting learning. This three part workshop engages participants in actively considering the advantages and challenges associated with constructing and using rubrics to facilitate awareness and engagement of learners.  It will begin with a review of key terms and a discussion of advantages and challenges associated with rubrics and cover types of rubrics and steps for developing rubrics.  Polls, plenary discussions and small group discussions online will enhance the interaction offered in these sessions.  In the second session, participants (especially groups) will be invited to co-construct a rubric for assessing the quality/design of rubrics.  In the third session, online tools and resources for developing rubrics will be introduced.  The focus in this workshop series will be to simultaneously demystify rubrics and share ideas for developing these guides for self-reflective learning. Participants will be invited to share current and anticipated uses of rubrics in their courses/programs and challenge themselves to use these workshop sessions and the intervening weeks as a time to explore and develop rubrics of their own.

This Online Institute will include the following sessions (and associated topical objectives):

1.     Identify definitions, advantages and types of rubrics;

2.     Reflect on how rubrics can be used to enhance teaching 
and guide learners in their own courses and programs.

3.     Co-construct a rubric for rubrics (matrix of characteristics);

4.     Consider and discuss how to develop a quality rubric and 
use it to empower and engage learners;

5.     Share sample rubrics and scoring sheets

6.     Review and Experiment with Online tools and resources for developing rubrics 
(particularly Flashlight Online 2.0, Rubistar & MERLOT resources)

Bonnie Mullinix will serve as key facilitator for this series.  Bonnie is currently Senior Consultant on Faculty and Educational Development with the TLT Group and Co-President of Jacaranda Educational Development, LLC.  Bonnie has been an educator and evaluator for over 30 years and has actively supported faculty exploration of rubrics since 1999.  She has facilitated workshops, presented conference sessions and delivered keynotes focusing on the effective use of rubrics in higher education.  Since 2002, her Rubric for Rubrics has been cited on multiple websites and referenced in multiple publications. This meta-rubric is a matrix of indicators that helps individuals identify key characteristics and determine the quality of rubrics as tools for guiding assessment for learning.  Particularly well received has been her interactive approach for exploration and co-construction of this matrix, which has been shared and experienced by faculty groups in dozens of colleges and universities.

Steve Ehrmann, Vice president of the TLT Group and Director of the Flashlight Program, will serve as co-facilitator during the third session where attention will turn to the way that the TLT Group’s Flashlight Online 2.0 tool can be used to construct and utilize rubrics for assessment and evaluative purposes.