Assessment should be introduced to students at the outset of the investigation so that it guides their work throughout the process of doing research.

When well crafted, rubrics can prove quite effective in helping students know what is expected of them as well as the characteristics of good thought and good work.

Often students can be involved in developing rubrics so they feel a sense of ownership as well as understanding.

Take a look with your partner at the Oak Harbor Information Skills Rating Scale and consider how such rubrics might prove useful when a class is conducting a decision-making exercise like the ones we have been exploring. How could it be adapted to focus clearly on decision-making?

Other Rubrics

There are many excellent collections of rubrics that may found using Google, but there are also many that are mediocre, so care must be taken when selecting those to be used with your students.

Try an Advanced Google search for the exact phrase "decision-making" (without quotation marks) combined with the general search term "rubrics." Which are worth bookmarking?

Also try an Advanced Google search for the exact phrase "cooperative group" (without quotation marks) combined with the general search term "rubrics." Which are worth bookmarking?

© Jamie McKenzie, 2007, all rights reserved. No copies can be made or distributed in any format without the express written permission of the author.