Today I decided to take a break from reading the provided literature and peruse the resources found on the chapter four link on tonykrug.info. Though there were a handful of resources, one in particular caught my attention. It is a website called Kathy Schrock's Guide For Educators. This website does not seem a lot at first, however, once looking at it, the website can be very beneficial for teachers. The website is full of links to rubrics that educators can implement in everyday instruction. The list of rubrics is endless. The topics that the website covers include Multimedia & Apps, Web 2.0, Rubric Builders, Generators, and Support, and Subject-Specific rubrics. Many of the links take the user to a website were the rubric is hosted, but they can easily be downloaded. An error of caution is that some of the links are broken and some of them require them to be used only if the user as authorized access (a particular school district).
The website is helpful in the regards that teachers do not have to take the time to create rubrics. But if a teacher does not want to use the linked rubric, the website provides links to sites that can generate rubrics in a plug and chug format. The rubrics that the website link to are a generic model of assessment and if a teacher wants to assess on a more in-depth level, the rubric will more than likely have to be adapted to meet the needs of the teacher's assessment.
In respect to classroom use, I think students enjoy having rubrics. I know I do. They are a great way to help motivate the student to perform to the teacher's expectations. Rubrics are not for everyone though. Some students and educators think that rubrics limit creativity. That is a different story for a different blog. The point is that rubrics are useful and the majority of students find the useful. They like to see the big picture and all the expectations as opposed to doing work that has vague measurement criteria.
While looking at the links on the website, the majority of the rubrics provided are your basic rubrics for basic subjects and assignments. There was one that I found interesting and never really expected to find. Someone had created a rubric for twitter. Twitter is the online social media tool that allows user to express thoughts in 140 characters or less. I just never really thought that someone would be assessed on if they know how to use twitter or not. Though if a student is working in a technology class, the concept makes sense. Also having a rubric about this type of topic provides a teacher with an uniform way to assess every student. Therefore rubrics create uniform accountability.
Check out the site. It might appear bland, but I assure it's full of useful links.
Thanks!
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