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Grade descriptors and standards!
What's that?
May be it is A, B, C, D, E, F or 1st 2nd 3rd honours?
Oh I think that I've done that already. Look at me! Look at me!
Um.. I am afraid that is not it
Isn't it the same as rubrics?
No, I am afraid not. Rubrics assess precise components of an assessment
like grammar, content organization and referencing
While grade descriptors should be descriptive statements about students' stage of development
It needs to align with learning outcomes and indicate students' development of higher level thinking.
Here is an example:
Wow!
But why did it need to be so detailed? Isn't mine enough?
I know what an A student is anyway
Even if I write the detailed grade descriptors
I will not use them when I'm grading
You need grade descriptors to communicate with other professors and TAs to have consistent grading.
I am sure other professors and my TAs know what I mean
I've already written down the criteria
like 'critical thinking' and 'original thoughts'
These are all common sense to the experienced markers
Why don't we do an experiment?
Let's invite this teacher here and us to do a test?
Are you ready?
Yes!
Question 1, 100 hundred dollars, - What is originality?
A. Do things creatively and independently
B. Present a different idea in an appealing style
C. Create something new and not copied from others
D. Obiwan Kanobi
I know I know! It must be B
No no no, it should be C
No I don't think you get it
No I don't think you get it
Originality should be doing things independently and creatively
it should be A!
Do you want to use lifelines?
Let's phone a friend!
No, ask the audience!
Okay!
So here we have 31% of audience think the answer should be A
31% B, also 31% picked C, and 7% picked D
You definition is so different from mine!
Oh our definition is so different even if we are from the same faculty!
So you see, you need clear grade descriptors to facilitate grading communication
But it seems very difficult and cumbersome to write grade descriptors
You can refer to the grade descriptors from other universities
well, if the grade descriptors are the university requirementâ then I will just write them.
Grade descriptors do have a lot of benefits
like ensuring consistent grading and increasing the transparency of assessment to students
But it will be useless if teachers just write the grade descriptors and do not implement them!
You would need to work with some good examples and discuss with your colleagues.
Finally, you should share the grade descriptors with students
to let them know how they are assessed to ensure grading transparency.