using+Rubrics+in+ANGEL

**// Reflection //**Working as a coachee in the eFLC has been both challenging and rewarding. Not surprisingly, the biggest challenge has been finding enough time to explore the web tools presented through the process. In watching what other group members are doing with technology, there is a tendency to want to incorporate everything one sees instantaneously. I love to play with the tools, but it takes time see their best applications for a given course. The Brown Bags and reading discussions have opened new avenues of exploration and sharing. We have such expertise here on campus, and it’s reassuring to know that help is not far away when obstacles materialize (and they frequently do).

** Beginning Work with Angel Rubrics ** **[]** ​ ** I have been using rubrics for my “6-Trait” writing evaluations for years.Originally, the rubrics looked something like this.(Rubric1)Over time, I began to weight various traits based on their importance to the writing or what had been emphasized in class.(Rubric2)Both rubrics, and particularly the weighted version, required a fair amount of computation to arrive at the grade.
 * RECORDING of SESSION (30 min) **
 * Where It All Began toc

After observing a basic Angel rubric in an ALC Elluminate session, I decided to try to incorporate rubrics in my Angel-based classes.It made perfect sense to have an integrated rubric, and I was hopeful that the rubrics could automate some of the menial computations.

I found out the hard way it is helpful to plan the rubric’s layout before actually using the rubric creator.Looking at my original rubrics, the layout seemed obvious: four columns (the grade rankings) and six rows (the graded traits).I entered these parameters in the rubric creator and then set about cutting and pasting the descriptors that differentiated the grade rankings.

I finished the rubric and was feeling pretty smug.It was now time to give it a trial run.The rubric was amazing, with one minor flaw.When I used my paper and pencil rubrics, I would frequently circle two adjoining numbers, indicating a score that fell between two numerical ranks.(For example, circling 3 and 4 would indicate a 3.5.)I had no way to do this on my electronic rubric; half scores didn’t exist.It didn’t take long to see how to correct the situation; I simply needed to add a column between each existing grade rank and give it the appropriate numerical half step.It is quite easy to edit a rubric, but if you need to go so far as changing the layout (columns or rows), all of the cell contents are erased.

I wound up having to duplicate all of my previous work.This did give me some extra hands-on practice, but it certainly wasn’t intentional.Amazingly, the rows (in this case the traits) could be weighted, and the rubric would do all of my previous computations instantaneously.

back =**Where to Start **= (from scratch)  From your Angel course shell, follow the “Manage” tab to the “Management Console.” In the “Data Management” nugget, click on “Rubric Manager.” To create a rubric, click on the “Add” link near the top of the page. From the pop-up window, click on “Create new rubric.”

(If you are actually hoping to create a usable rubric, it is advisable to have pre-planned the layout.Otherwise, you can just “play around” to get the feel of how the rubric creator works.)

Once you have defined the basic rubric grid and clicked on “Next Step,” it is time to enter your specific parameters.Generally speaking, the top defines the grade rank, and the left defines what is being evaluated and the weights.The rest of the grid is used to clarify specific grading criteria.The information in each cell can be changed by clicking in that cell.

Note: the trait weights must total 100%.(The rubric creator will not let you go to the next step until they do.)

When you are satisfied with the rubric, you can name it and save it.It will be added to your “Rubric Manager.”(Don’t despair if you missed something; the rubric can be edited at a later time.) back

=**Using a Rubric **=

Any time you have an assignment dropbox, a particular rubric can be associated with that assignment.

Click on the dropbox “Settings.” Click on the “Assignment” tab. Under “Gradebook Settings” use the drop-down menu to create a new assignment. (Fill in any other pertinent information.) Under “Grading Rubric” use the drop-down menu to select a rubric. (If no rubrics are listed, there are no rubrics in this class’s Rubric Manager.) (Note the two check boxes.One displays an unscored rubric to students.The other displays the scored rubric to students.) Click on “Submissions. (This will give you the option of viewing, grading, or deleting a submission.) Click on “Grade” and a rubric icon will appear. Click on the rubric icon and a scoring rubric will appear. Click in the appropriate grid boxes; the rubric will track and total the score. (If you set this up as an assignment, the score will be automatically transferred to the gradebook.) back =**Helpful Hints **=
 * Some **

Rubrics that have already been created will appear in list form on the “Rubric Manager” page.Existing rubrics can be edited, copied, renamed, etc. by using the drop-down arrow next to each rubric name.

Once you have a usable rubric, it is possible to edit it rather than create a whole new rubric.For example, maybe you just want to change the category weights.This can be done, and the “new” rubric can be saved with a different name.

Rubrics can be copied from one course to another.

=**In Closing **= Contrary to the way it may sound here, for the amount of time spent planning and creating Angel rubrics, the return is enormous. If you can borrow existing rubrics from other instructors, they can be used as templates for your own rubrics.It can save a lot of time.

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