Types of Educational Evaluation Tools
Educational evaluation tools are used for assessing students’ learning progress. They provide different alternatives, apart from traditional exams, for assessing the learners’ performance. The evaluation results in aid decision-making that enhances effective learning and, thus, excellent performance. Evaluating individual students helps identify their potential abilities in different fields, thus mentoring them appropriately. These tools also improve active learning, team-building, and peer-to-peer learning. Institutions conduct consultations before incorporating any evaluation tool into their system to ensure they are reliable, valid, standardized, and equitable.
A checklist assesses whether a student performed excellently or poorly. The Linkert scale shows performance quality by either a numeric value or descriptive word(s). The rubric is a matrix of indicators that explains different categories of performances. Peer and self-assessment evaluate students’ performance and acquired skills (Algonquin College, n.d.). The ipsative assessment compares current with previous performances of a student. Criterion-referenced assessment that evaluates an individual student away from the others. The norm-referenced assessment compares an individual student’s performance to a group of other students (Kampen, 2021).
Analytic vs. Holistic Rubric
An analytic rubric can be used to assess performance per subject. A holistic rubric assesses a student’s general performance. An analytical rubric has achievement columns and assessment rows table. The holistic rubric is either a percentage or a text result (Yune et al., 2018). The analytical rubric provides a detailed assessment report since it breaks down performance. A holistic report provides a generalized assessment because it focuses on general performance. Both rubrics are efficient in explaining the performance level of each student.
Performance descriptions in the analytic rubric are presented in paragraphs. In contrast, a holistic rubric presents performance descriptions in a table where values are assigned to criteria, giving a total result when summed up. The analytic rubric consumes time to create since it articulates every aspect of the performance, while the holistic rubric takes less time since it summarizes the overall performance. In a small population, an analytic rubric is used since it is possible to evaluate the population of every individual. On the other hand, a holistic rubric is used since it is an excellent tool for summarizing several performances.
Advantages of Using Rubric for Evaluation
It helps compare performance levels between different faculties and students. The rubric also lets students know their average performance and encourages them to improve. It enables the students to assess their assignments and make necessary adjustments before submitting them, thus improving their grades and overall performance. Rubrics empower different faculties to standardize their performances and, therefore, award students appropriate grades. Students understand the process and the significance of evaluation (Kidd et al., 2021). It is the faculty itself that Is mandated to develop and implement grading criteria
Disadvantages of Using Rubric for Evaluation
The designing of a rubric can be a complicated and time-consuming process because of its complexity; it takes time before it is up and running. The rubric needs continuous revision to make it standardized, effective, and easy to use. This continuous revision delays the release of results. It is not easy to express performance expectations for all the students to understand; some may not get the significance of it. When some students do not know how it works, it inconveniences its usability and the rest of the students. (Kidd et al., 2021). Setting up criteria to define performance can be a highly complex procedure and thus takes time before its approval for use.
Measuring Learning Through Rubrics and Assignments
The rubric helps assess assignments consistently from time to time and student to student. It encourages close monitoring of students, identifying their weaknesses, and assisting them appropriately. Rubric results aid in improving learning techniques by reviewing rubric results. Using a rubric saves time in grading assignments since everything is structured elaborately. Rubric ensures timely feedback on assignments, thus ensuring a smooth and effective learning process. It also defines components and desired expectations on assignments (Cornell University, n.d.). In addition, it guides the learning process and progress.
An assignment is a tool for assessing students regularly, unlike exams administered at the end of a term or a semester. Instructors use assignment results to evaluate their students on whether they have achieved their learning goals. Giving students assessments improves their cognitive and analytical capabilities in their respective fields of learning. Instructors use results from different assignments to evaluate whether the students have conceptualized the particular topics. Students acquire different technical writing skills through tackling assignments in their respective fields of study. These skills help students write professional essays and articles, which boost their performance in school and competitiveness in their future ventures.
Advantages of Providing Evaluation Tool Before Assignment is Due
Guides students on areas to focus on and gives clear communication about the assignment. It encourages students to improve personal performance by familiarizing themselves with assessment procedures. Ease assessors work in grading students’ work and encourage positive feedback on assignments(UNSW, n.d.). It also helps identify students’ weaknesses and the assistance needed.
Disadvantages of Providing Evaluation Tool Before Assignment Is Due
It is not easy, sometimes, to comprehend the exact criteria and standards as stated in the rubrics. Evaluation tools do not accommodate diverse outcomes; they are inclined to specific criteria and standards. Assessment rubrics are indefinite in the description and may interfere with the grading. Simplifying assessment raises staff’s marking workload since it interferes with grading decisions. Students develop over-reliance on rubrics and relent on critical thinking.
Rubric to Measure Student’s Mastery of SLO
The required rubric evaluates student performance over a given learning period. It has criteria rows with clearly defined and distinct performance levels to record marks. These marks are purely based on the accuracy of the students in their respective responses. The individual marks per criterion are summed up to give the student a final score; this score determines the student’s overall performance on the SLO. The results help the instructor determine whether the learning goals are achieved or identify new effective teaching skills to boost students’ performance. It also identifies students’ areas of weakness, thus giving insights into required assistance.
Students’ Mastery of Practices to Prevent Illness
This rubric assesses students’ mastery of practices to prevent illnesses by incorporating Bloom’s Taxonomy.
References
Algonquin College. (n.d.). Assessment grading tools. Professor’s Resource Site. Web.
Cornell University. (n.d.). Using rubrics: Center for Teaching Innovation. Using rubrics | Center for Teaching Innovation. Web.
Kampen, M. (2021). 6 types of assessment (and how to use them). Prodigy Education. Web.
Varnell, M. (2021). 16.1: What are the pros and cons of using rubrics? Social Sci LibreTexts. Web.
UNSW. (n.d.). Using assessment rubrics. Using Assessment Rubrics | UNSW Teaching Staff Gateway. Web.
Yune, S. J., Lee, S. Y., Im, S. J., Kam, B. S., & Baek, S. Y. (2018). Holistic rubric vs. analytic rubric for measuring clinical performance levels in medical students. BMC medical education. Web.