Some Brief Assessment Ideas

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Some Brief Assessment Ideas

• Before we start
• Lets 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.

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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

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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.

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Which Rubric?

• Even students that have my classes term after
  term adjust (seemingly easily) to these changes.

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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

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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 doesnt work that way.
• To me, 2 is 50 of 4.
• Do you see the dilemma?

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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.

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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 ______________
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College Algebra CourseAssessment Components

• Active work in class
• Clear and complete homework presentations
• Exams Quizzes including peer quizzes, written
  exams
• and an
• ORAL FINAL EXAM

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College Algebra CourseAssessment References

• For reference
• Already filed in your notebook under College
  Algebra-Assessment
• 1. Course Syllabus
• 2. E/Q/I/N Assessment Guide
• 3. HW Cover (elaborate)
• 4. Final (oral) Exam Procedures

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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

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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.
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Abstract Algebra CourseAssessment 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.

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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)

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Abstract Algebra Assessment References

• For reference
• Already filed in your notebook under Abstract
  Algebra-Assessment
• 1. Course Syllabus
• 2. Assessment Guide
• 3. HW Procedures Guide
• 4. HW Cover
• 5. Final Project Directions

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Abstract Algebra Assessment Examples

• For reference
• Already filed in your notebook under
• Abstract Algebra-Student Work
• Final Project Sample