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 Exceptional
3 = Q Quality
2 = I In Development
1 = 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 = D
HOWEVER
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 Course
Assessment Components
Active work in class
Clear and complete homework
presentations
Exams & Quizzes including peer
quizzes, written exams
and an
 ORAL FINAL EXAM
College Algebra Course
Assessment References
For reference:
Already filed in your notebook
under College Algebra-Assessment
1.
2.
3.
4.
Course Syllabus
E/Q/I/N Assessment Guide
HW Cover (elaborate)
Final (oral) Exam Procedures
College Algebra
Assessment Examples
For reference:
Already filed in your notebook
under College Algebra-Student
Work
1. Counting piece array problems
2. 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 Course
Assessment Components
These students were graded on:
Active work in class
Clear and complete homework
presentations
Take-Home Quizzes only
Two “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 References
For reference:
Already filed in your notebook under
Abstract Algebra-Assessment
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Course Syllabus
Assessment Guide
HW Procedures Guide
HW Cover
Final Project Directions
Abstract Algebra
Assessment Examples
For reference:
Already filed in your notebook under
Abstract Algebra-Student Work
Final Project Sample