As UMUC faculty move to detailed definition and assessment of student learning outcomes, the use of grading rubrics and other holistic assessment tools is taking on increasing prominence. An enthusiastic advocate is UMUC Graduate Schools Stella Porto.
Prof. Porto has been researching, using, and spreading the word about the value of rubrics sincethe summer of 2002.That year, she was invited to give a 1-day course on assessment in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at an international conference held by the Brazilian Distance Education Association. Preparing for that event, she found that much of the work by T.A. Angelo and K.P. Cross inspired her, and she adapted many of their assessment practices to the online environment. Her active use of rubrics was a by-product of her research and has become a progressively indispensable element of her teaching.During these 2 years of implementing and improving her rubrics, Prof. Porto has been gratified by overwhelmingly positive student response to her assessmentspecificationsand her comprehensive feedback on assignments, as well as by a reduction in student questions about assignment expectations and grading.
The UMUC community has benefitted from Dr. Portos insights on the subject of rubrics in two public forums in 2004. She has graciously allowed the DE Oracle to present here her materials, which help to introduce and define grading rubrics and their value to UMUC online instructors:
- The Power of Rubrics: Video/PPT files of her presentation at the February 2004 Graduate School Faculty Meeting (with transcripts)
- Sample paper and participation rubrics used (and regularly revised!) by Dr. Porto
February 2004 Seminar, The Power of Rubrics
Videos of Dr. Portos presentation, with transcripts
 | Links to multimedia* views of presentation segments (video with PowerPoints) | Links to Transcripts |
| Part 1 : Introduction: Defining Holistic Assessment (10:20 mins.) | Transcript - Part 1 | |
| Part 2 : Defining Rubrics their Benefits (11:54 mins.) | Transcript - Part 2 | |
| Part 3 : Process of Developing and Using Rubrics (7:48 mins.) | Transcript - Part 3 | |
| Part 4: Two Examples by Dr. Porto, plus References (6:10 mins.) | Transcript - Part 4 |
*Please note that the media files are formatted for RealPlayer. You may need to download and install the latest version of basic RealOne Player from Real Networks if you have difficulty viewing/ hearing the video. (Look for the Free RealOne Player, not the Free Trial.)
Dr. Portos Paper Participation Rubrics
An instructor is likely to continually refine his/her rubrics in response to student feedback and/or the instructors own experience using them. Also, the instructor may wish to provide, along with a rubric, additional instructions about performance expectations, customized to students in a given class in a given semester. Here are examples of Dr. Portos paper and participation rubrics, including examples of a revised rubric and of additional instructions.
