Locally Developed Classroom Rubrics

In another session from TYCA-West last fall, I will share one aspect concerning how Freshman Composition is taught at the University of Texas in El Paso (UTEP). This university has 23,000 students, 78 % Hispanic and 5% International students from Mexico. In the past they used the following system for assessment:

• A norming committee had assessed student writing
• The school had standardized rubrics for all major writing assignments in First Year Second Semester classes--mostly taught by graduate students.
• A collection of student work had been required.

During this season, UTEP maintained an English Wiki for student access. Change came because students and many instructors here and elsewhere felt that having students deal with a third party for grading seemed pointless in the sense that the student had no way of communication with the committee. (Brunk-Chavez and Fourzan-Rice, 2013).

Since that time, UTEP has moved away from doing norming, and now they look at innovative ways of assessing to make students part of the process. They have moved to a series of space observation assignments.

1) Space observation #1--Objectively describe a space in a descriptive essay.

2) Space observation #2--Observe people, behaviors, gender. What does gender mean in this space, how is the space constructed for gender?

3) Space observation #3--Interview 

4) Final Project--Space essay--Students create a field report--What does this space say about gender?

After completing these assignments, instructors guide students to create locally developed classroom rubrics. How, you may ask, can students create their own grading rubric?

• First students draft a paper based on assignment guidelines provided by the instructor.
• After students draft the paper, drafts go through peer revision.
• One entire class period is then set aside to have students do a second close reading of the assignment.
• Students write in their blogs about the most important things they should have in the rubric. (These blogs are in Weebly,)
• Students in groups of three to four share their ideas.
• Then each group comes to an internal census.
• The groups each write their list on the board.
• Groups compare their reports and come to a class consensus through negotiation.
• Next the class assigns point values for each category.
• The instructor has a non-negotiable category added to the rubric; it is for 10 points to go for APA Citation and for grammar.

The graduate assistants from UTEP said that students had better buy in for grades earned when they had written the rubric themselves. Students also were far more engaged in the writing process and truly understood the value of things such as cohesion, organization, support, and so on.

Another group of UTEP instructors use the Textual Analysis Essay. These instructors have students find an article related to a topic and analyze it for purpose, audience, ethos, pathos, logos, and so on.

Week 1--Prewrite the essay
Week 3--The rough draft is due
Week 4--Instructor returns rough draft with feedback
Week 5--Final drafts are due

Now rubric creation begins. Students study the assignment and decide what three attributes of writing are most important. Students base their decision on comments made from the instructor and peer review from the first assignment. This activity gets students looking at their own writing more actively in a new light. This process helps students grasp the elements of what constitutes a well-written paper. Finally, students test their rubric on a sample essay provided by the instructor prior to actually using it on future essays.

When students truly engage in the process, everyone benefits. And when students create the rubric themselves, they are more likely to understand the assignment. 

Kindle for Reading Improvement?

My husband recently went to Phoenix to a computer training session, and he learned about the new Kindle Fire coming out at $49. He ordered me one, and when it came in the mail, I was surprised and not so sure I would use it. After all, I really do like paper versions of books, and I do have a Kindle app on my iPad, but I have found it really comfortable to hold, and the text breezes across the screen like silk.

Another discovery I made with this device is that it has a few tools that may help English language learners quite a bit. The first tool is Word Wise. Readers can Hide or Show the Word Wise mini-definitions for selected words in the book. Readers can also adjust from Fewer Hints to More Hints depending on their personal preference. I find that these tips aren't too helpful for me, but for someone learning English, I believe they would be very helpful. Imagine learning a language and having a small group of easier words in that language showing up immediately above the word you don't know yet, and that is basically what Word Wise offers.

Word Runner is the other tool I find intriguing as a Reading instructor. Notice how in this image on the left the text rolls through one word at a time. Readers can adjust the reading rate up or down. The words are also paced differently with complex words coming up more slowly, and easier words coming up at a faster rate. This pacing is an enhanced form of speed reading technology that is sure to catch on for more than English language learners. I have even enjoyed practicing speeding up my own reading rate. Imagine the possibilities this tool can have in K-12 schools all around the country!

And alas, it is still a Kindle. This tool has Internet, Airplane Mode, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Camera, Help, Auto Rotate, and Settings buttons. The Home page has Silk Browser, Amazon Freetime, Goodreads, Calendar, Photos, Contacts, Docs, Calculator, and many other apps already loaded and included in the low $49 price. Audiobooks, Newsstand, Kindle Books, and other apps can easily be used for all kinds of homework and classroom activities. Maybe Canvas will even decide to add some of these apps.

 For now I will practice learning the capabilities of the Kindle Fire 5th Generation. I am seriously considering asking the college to get a set of these for classroom use for the ENG085 class. Another idea is to have students order one as part of their textbook supplies for the semester. And if any of you have children or grandchildren who may benefit, for $49, it is not a bad investment in their education. Be blessed, and have a great week!