Cubric's Rube

This is my opinion of a poor assessment system that is not helpful to our children. It is, in my opinion more of a benefit to the ITPW in a CYA sort of way. Again, this is my opinion, and as Richard Dawkin's so aptly put it....if you don't like it then you can feck off :)

A feck off AND a smiley face - tomorrow's Friday! :) !

I was taught in an government run educational system and thankfully, at the time, never subjected to the 'rubric' form of assessment.


I work in a government run educational system and I've seen a lot of focus on the 'rubric' assessment tool lately and it really is letting students down.


I am fortunate to never have been subjected to this type of assessment - a model where an instructor/teacher/professor/whatever (ITPW) scribbles their mark in a certain box that represents their opinion of my level of achievement according to government's vague description of said level of achievement. I personally feel sorry for them in having to use this restrictive grid method and deeply concerned for the student who receives such vague feedback in this manner.


Maybe it's the rubric? Maybe it's the instructor/teacher/professor/whatever? I really do not know. I've seen many of the 'rubrics' come home and they are ridiculous. I have no complaints of the 'mark' - they are always level 3 or 4 - lucky parent me ya? It's the method or interpretation that is ridiculous.


Let's look at the differences in a 'level 3' and 'level 4' rubric assessment for a brochure assignment. From what I have seen they are all much the same. My experiences might be geographically specific and system specific, but they are mine so on with this...


Note: Level 3 means that provincial standards are met.
Level 4 means that provincial standards are 'exceeded'.

*There are no clear definitions or criteria that assist in determining what 'exceeded' really means*


Category: Writing - Vocabulary

Level 4: The authors correctly use several new words.
Level 3: The authors correctly use a few new words.

What quantity are we talking about here? Several/Few? Who are these words 'new' to and why is 'authors' plural if one student is writing it? If an IPTW chooses level 3 or 4 they should also be able to identify what words they are basing the choice on....ya?


Category: Attractiveness & Organization

Level 4: The brochure has exceptionally attractive formatting and well-organized information.
Level 3: The brochure has attractive formatting and well-organized information.


The only difference here is "exceptionally". Exceptionally is extremely subjective and is not defined in a provincially accepted standard. In this case, the difference between a 3 or 4 is the IPTW's definition of "exceptionally" - not the provinces definition of what 'exceptionally' means.


Category: Content - Accuracy:

Level 4: All facts in the brochure are accurate.
Level 3: 99-90% of the facts in the brochure are accurate.

A 'grading' of a level 3 means that 1-10% of the facts are inaccurate. The IPTW needs to be able to identify the 1-10% that is inaccurate.


Category: Spelling & Proofreading

Level 4: No spelling errors remain after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the the brochure.

Level 3: No more than 1 spelling error remains after one person other than the typist reads and corrects the the brochure.


So, no spelling errors after the IPTW reads and corrects means level 4? Everyone would get level 4 then. Grammar errors are not even considered!

So please, rate this blog post a level 1,2,3 or 4 according to you own values and particular mood of the day :)

Peace and Love