Making the Transition to 4 Point RubricsMany of us are hopeful as we transition to 4 point rubrics that we will spend less time counting up points to measure degrees of completion and really focus on the learning goal(s) at hand. It appears that using a four point rubric based on learning goals is much easier and less time consuming to use than many of the traditional grading practices we have used in the past. Now that we have shifted our focus in TUSD to writing, some science teachers are feeling compelled to grade for spelling, grammar, neatness, format and other things that are way beyond the scope our unit learning goals. Every time you create or use a rubric, you need to ask yourself , "What is the learning goal of this assignment or unit?" And then grade only that! |
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April 2018
AuthorCari WIlliams is a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) for the Tustin Unified School District in Southern California. She holds a MS in Instructional Design and Technology from Cal State Fullerton and works on the side as a consultant writing science and STEAM curriculum and training teachers. After working for 12 years in the classroom as a middle school science and STEAM teacher, she transitioned into the role of Digital Learning Coach in 2013. In this role, Cari helped teachers innovate curriculum and shift pedagogies through the integration of educational technologies and practices found within the NGSS. Her most current work as a TOSA is focussed on engineering design in robotics, computer science, and makerspaces. She is an official VEX Robotics event partner hosting tournaments for teams from around Southern California as well as leading 28 robotics programs servicing over 100 teams in the Tustin Unified School District. Although her expertise has taken her deep into STEAM education, she remains passionate and engaged in helping teachers transition to the NGSS through participating as a Science Peer Review Panelist for Achieve and acting as a Professional Learning Facilitator and Instructional Coach for NSTA. |