1. LoudCloud: Marking Substantive Posts

2. Faculty members are expected to clearly communicate the criteria they will be using in assessing participation. The participation criteria is part of the standard GCU classroom policies, located in each classroom at Resources > Student Success Center > Classroom Policies - Student Expectations and Faculty Commitment. Please refer to this document for the participation requirements for each course.

3. “I always knew I could control one thing…my effort” -Ryan Seacrest Marking student posts as Substantive throughout the week will work to consolidate your efforts when grading weekly participation. The following slides illustrate the action steps to implement this best practice within the LoudCloud Classroom.

4. Participation refers to student contributions in the DQ forums above and beyond the mandatory DQ responses. As an instructor reads the student participatory contributions, s/he can mark posts as Substantive by clicking on “Yes” and “Submit.”

5. The LoudCloud Gradebook calculates the amount of Substantive Posts (indicated by number in parenthesis). Note: the Total number indicates the total responses throughout the week, which includes DQ responses, participation posts, both substantive and not substantive)

6. There should be some level of variance in feedback provided, grading for content and overall quality of responses. According to GCU policy, faculty are expected to provide substantive, individualized, and comprehensive feedback on student participation within 7 days of the module end date.