Rubrics as Tools for Effective Assessment of Student Learning and Program Quality

2021 ◽  
pp. 173-200
Author(s):  
Jacqueline M. Olson ◽  
Rebecca Krysiak
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Iterative Process ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Program Quality ◽  
Leadership Support ◽  
Institutional Learning ◽  
Assessment Of Student Learning ◽  
Effective Assessment

The purpose of this chapter is to highlight the potential of rubrics as tools for effective assessment and introduce the concepts of rubric assessment, construction, testing, and implementation, with critical stakeholder involvement and leadership support. Rubrics should be designed to align to outcomes and assess the level of achievement for each major component of an assignment. They can be constructed in a variety of ways with various kinds of points allocations. From design to implementation, a range of stakeholders including subject, curriculum, and assessment experts should be involved to ensure the rubric descriptions use measurable verbs and objective language. Rubrics design is an iterative process with an aim to continuously improve their effectiveness. Done well, rubrics can serve as support to student learning, consistent and transparent evaluation of students work, and course, program, and institutional learning quality assessment.

Outcomes-based approach to quality assessment and curriculum improvement in higher education

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Tam
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Quality Assessment ◽  
Student Learning ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Curriculum Improvement ◽  
Improving Student Learning ◽  
Views And Perceptions ◽  
Traditional Structures

Purpose – This paper was written for practitioners in higher education, including academics and instructional designers who are engaged in curriculum revision. It aims to examine the notion of outcomes-based education, survey the literature and provide a critical review of the outcomes-based approach to quality assessment and curriculum improvement in higher education. The outcomes-based approach is completely student-centred, which focuses on what students know and can actually do. Sharpening the focus onto student learning outcomes goes beyond mere tinkering with traditional structures and methods; it really constitutes a paradigm shift in educational philosophy and practice. Design/methodology/approach – This paper begins with a summary of developments in institutional quality assessment and curriculum improvement in higher education in recent decades. Then, it identifies the underlying concepts and principles that characterize the outcomes-based approach for the design and improvement of curriculum and instruction in higher education. Finally, the outcomes-based approach is critically reviewed for its value from the perspectives of both practical and philosophical considerations. Findings – In so doing, it is directed to the heightening of sensitivity as to the manner and situations in which the outcomes-based approach may be employed. Originality/value – A final note is that while learning outcomes approaches are useful, care is needed to take into account the different views and perceptions of those involved in defining learning outcomes and to keep the ultimate goal of improving student learning clearly in mind. Care must also be taken to avoid rigidity and conceptual reification during implementation in curriculum and instructional design.

scholarly journals Development and Evaluation of an Electronic Guide for Introductory Microbiology Skills

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35
Author(s):  
ALICE WRIGHT ◽  
ETHELYNDA E. HARDING
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Written Examination ◽  
Lower Division ◽  
Assessment Of Student Learning ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Poster Presentations ◽  
Enhance Student Learning ◽  
Biology Majors

To increase the quality of instruction, enhance student learning, and decrease laboratory time spent on laboratory safety, basic skills, and the use of equipment, we developed the Micro eGuide website. We compared the performance of students who used the Micro eGuide to students provided more traditional instruction in both an upper-level introductory microbiology course for biology majors and in a lower-division introductory microbiology course for nonmajors. Assessment of student learning included written pretests and posttests, practical testing of laboratory skills, and for the major’s class, a review of poster presentations of independent projects. Students who used the Micro eGuide showed a statistically significant increase in performance on written examination in the introductory microbiology courses for both biology majors and nonmajors. Use of the Micro eGuide in the sophomore-level course for nonbiology majors resulted in a statistically significant improvement in laboratory skills. Though the increase in laboratory skills in the majors courses was not statistically significant, instructors were able to use the site as an effective learning source and decrease the time spent in class on topics covered in the Micro eGuide. While the number of student independent research projects was too small for statistical analysis on the quality of the poster presentations, the improvement in student attitude and the increase in the diversity in topics selected suggests that students using the Micro eGuide had increased comfort with microbiology and increased interest in exploring microbiology.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document