:) Rubrics :(

I was thinking about the pros and cons of using rubrics. I like them because they can be created for or adapted to a variety of topics and assignments. I think they are especially useful in judging what the students learned because they contain an explicit description of what their finished product should look like.  It also helps grading be more consistent and fair.  I use them for all my students’ science fair work.  I also use them for projects and presentations.  Problems I have run into involve the design of the rubrics.  I have done many edits to my rubrics over the years.  It is very easy to find rubrics online but without modification, the results wouldn’t be valid.  They have to be either designed from scratch or online rubrics must be adapted.  Deciding the weight of each criterion is time consuming but it’s not as difficult as picking the right criteria and making sure all areas of assessment are included.  I have recently discovered the importance of including sections like the following: 

Typed Proposal  -Hole punch and place the typed  -proposal in the current version section of SRP notebook	2
Your Grade & Peer Grade     – Rubric columns completed on both sides of this sheet	2
This Rubric – name, date, and block on rubric – place this rubric in front of 1st notebook divider.	4
On time – notebook presented on time	5
Edits & Modifications for Notebook Organization Are Complete	5

I find the more details the better!

Web Validity Lesson

I use this lesson before my students conduct science research for their projects.  It helps them determine the validity of information that they find on the Internet. After reviewing  several evaluation techniques for online resources, I divide them into 3 groups to assess selected Web sites based on accuracy and authority, advocacy and objectivity, and currency and coverage.  The main question that students must decide is: Would you use this Web site for a research paper?  Why or why not?

I give each group the assignment sheet below and give them about fifteen minutes to evaluate their selected two Web sites.  After, I have each group report their findings to the class.  (This lesson works well, but what I’m missing is the authentic problem.)

Group 1

Authority and Accuracy-

How critical an observer are you?  Learn how to evaluate information sources by doing the following exercise.  Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine the basis for claims made on these pages? How could you tell whether or not the information provided is accurate? 

Feline Reactions to Bearded Men (http://improbable.com/airchives/classical/cat/cat.html)

Dihydrogen Monoxide (http://www.dhmo.org)

OncoLink (http://oncolink.upenn.edu/)

Tobacco Control Archives (http://www.library.ucsf.edu/tobacco/index.html)

Questions to consider when reviewing web pages for authority and accuracy. 

1.       Can you determine who put this page together?

2.       What is the background, credentials, or authority of the author of this web page?

3.       How would you verify the information presented on this web page?

Group 2

Advocacy and Objectivity-

How critical an observer are you?  Learn how to evaluate information sources by doing the following exercise.  Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine whether or not these sites are favoring a particular point of view or are taking an objective approach? 

Consumer Reports Online (http://www.consumerreports.com/)

Families Against Internet Censorship (http://www.netfamilies.org/)

EarthSave International (http://www.earthsave.org/)

Human Cloning (http://www.humancloning.org/)

Questions to consider when viewing these web pages for advocacy and objectivity.

1.       Do the author(s) present the information as fact or opinion or conjecture?

2.       Does this page present more than one viewpoint or opinion?

3.       Can you determine who or what group sponsors this web page? Do they hold a particular view or opinion?

Group 3

Currency and Coverage-

How critical an observer are you?  Learn how to evaluate information sources by doing the following exercise.  Pick any two sites from the list below. What evidence can you find to determine how up to date these pages are and whether or not they cover their topics as completely as they claim?  

Drudge Report (http://www.drudgereport.com/)

CNN (http://www.cnn.com)

Auto-by-Tel (http://www.autobytel.com/)

Questions to consider when reviewing web pages for currency and coverage. 

1.       What does "up to date" or "current" mean for this site? (Hint: What is the latest date you can find on this site?)

2.       Does the site really provide information on all the aspects or areas it claims to cover?

3.       Is the information provided uniformly complete for all the aspects and areas the site claims to cover?

4.       Bonus question: Where could you find more up to date or complete information on your topic?