Authentic Assessments and Rubrics
Module Six

Carol Amberg - Course Designer
March - Module 6

This month, I am passing on to you three websites to explore.

1.It is called Rubistar. It is a rubric-writing site. It is worth a look, especially if you are having a difficult time with the format of a rubric with descriptors. While it tends to be a little simplistic, it is a good way to get used to the format and it has the flexibility built in for you to revise and adapt the descriptors for quality work and tailor it to your particular assignments. Take a look and see if it is something you can use.

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/


2. The purpose for perusing this site is really two-fold. First, it provides almost a catalog of good rubrics within the context of good instructional units. Second, it provides an extensive pool of ideas for units in all subjects both across the curriculum and across the grade levels.

An added feature is that one of the requirements for each of these units (as mandated by the grant that funds them) is that there be a technology component within each unit. It's intriguing to see all of the ways teachers are using computers and other technology for instruction.

www.title3.org


Just click on "Find a Lesson Plan." You may search by school district, topic, subject area, or grade.

3. Perhaps the most interesting and user friendly site is this one. Check it out, and let me know what you think.

http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~elaine.coxon/rubrics.htm


I am hopeful that you will find ideas at these sites which will be helpful to you as you fine-tune your rubrics.

Please email these reflections:

1. What did you learn in your exploration of these three sites?

2. What ideas might you use or adapt for your own teaching?


Additional Resources
provided by: Tara A. Demers - "4" Project

Brookhart, S. M. (1999). The art and science of classroom assessment: The missing part of pedagogy (pp. 48-53). Washington, D.C.: George Washington University.

Brooks, J. G., & Brooks, M. G. (1993). Assessing student learning in the context of teaching. In search of understanding: The case for constructivist classrooms (pp. 85-100). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Jensen, K. (1995). Effective rubric design. The Science Teacher, 62, 34-37.

LeBuffe, J. R. (1993). Performance assessment. The Science Teacher, 60, 46-48.

Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D., & McTighe, J. (1993). Assessing student outcomes: Performance assessment using the dimensions of learning model. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Stiggins, R. J. (1994). Performance assessment: An old friend rediscovered. Student-centered classroom assessment (pp. 159-204). New York: Macmillan College Publishing Company.

Wiggins, G. P. (1998). Scoring rubrics. Educative assessment: Designing assessments to inform and improve student performance (pp. 153-185). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Wiggins, G. P. (1993). Authenticity, context, and validity. Assessing students performance: Exploring academic achievement in the secondary school (pp. 206-255). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.