Assessment: discussion participation rubric

The NASA Center for Astronomy Education (CAE) hosts a listserver discussing astronomy teaching and learning, moderated by Gina Brissenden. Recent posting:

The following table lists the criteria for posted in response to a topic on the discussion forum. The posted response should be with complete sentences and correct grammar. These will be graded according to the following:

• 90-100: A-Level participation
  
  • The conclusion or opinion is relevant to the discussion topic.
    
  • The answer is insightful & synthesizes basic concepts.
    
  • You have stated reasons and evidence to support your conclusion or opinion.
    
  • The answer and supporting evidence is clearly stated.
    
  
  
• 80-89: B–Level participation
  Same as A-Level participation, except that:
  
  • The answer is notably lacking one of the items listed for an A level response.
    
  
  
• 70-79: C–Level participation
  Same as B–Level participation, except that:
  
  • The answer is notably lacking two of the items listed for A-Level response.
    
  
  
• 60-69: D-Level participation
  Same as C–Level participation, except that:
  
  • The answer is notably lacking three of the items listed for A- Level response.
    
  
  
• 59 and below: F–level participation
  
  • Failure to turn in the work
    

--Jean Hurrle, Kankakee River Valley Forest Preserve District

This rubric is a good example of a subtractive scale, where students understand that they will receive a certain grade for performing at a certain level (the Astronomy 10 grading rubrics (introductory general-education astronomy) and Physics 8AB grading rubrics (university physics, calculus-based) at Cuesta College are more specific, but similar to this rubric, stress transparency and objectivity for the benefit of the instructor, as well as the students.