1. Blackboard Assignments & Feedback Rubrics
Stuart Hepplestone
Quality Enhancement & Student Success

2. About this session to introduce Feedback Rubrics
to give an update on Blackboard Assignments and online submission
demonstrate how Assignments and Feedback Rubrics can enable efficient and effective assignment management and feedback online

3. are interactive marking grids
Feedback rubrics
display the assessment criteria for an assignment
can help students understand what is expected to meet the requirements of an assignment
can be used as a marking tool to demonstrate to students how they met each criterion
ensure that marking is consistent and impartial
are interactive marking grids
can be associated with Assignments, Grade Columns, Blogs, Wikis, Discussion Board threads and forums, Essay and Short Answer Test questions
can be copied, re-used and exported
can generate a statistical report showing rubric analysis and frequency distribution

4. Feedback rubrics (point range example)

5. Feedback rubrics (weighted percentage example)

6. Feedback rubrics (no points example)

7. Online submission
Simplifies the submission process and saves time, money and resources:
most student work originates in an electronic format
flexibility of submission regardless of location
submissions can made any time until the deadline
time is not spent travelling to hand-in or post work
saves paper and printing resources, travel and postage costs
Improves the feedback experience:
quicker turnaround of feedback in a legible format
allows control over how, when and where feedback is received
enables response to feedback when emotionally ready and in privacy
provides convenience of storage and access to feedback

8. Online submission
Simplifies the admin processes and saves time involved in sorting and distributing coursework:
immediate access to submissions after the deadline
enables concurrent (rather than sequential) marking and parallel moderation
easy access for external examiners
keeps a record of feedback
Tracking:
at-a-glance check of who has not submitted can help identify at-risk students
Adds value to the marking process:
e.g. use tools such as Turnitin to help check the originality of submissions

9. Straw poll Did any of you ...
... use online submission through Blackboard prior to /13?

10. Blackboard Assignments
Phased out Assignment Handler/SHU Assignments and reintroduced Blackboard Assignments
Featured gained:
set the number of attempts and allow individual students or groups additional attempts
grading by group – provide the same feedback and grade for each group member
Feedback Rubrics

11. Blackboard Assignments
Features lost:
receipt and onscreen confirmation of student submissions
however: submission history confirms details and status of submission
batch upload of feedback file attachments
however: improved grading workflow results in fewer clicks between students’ attempts
student reflection on feedback to activate grade release
however: regular My Grades supports new grading features (e.g Feedback Rubrics)
offline assignments and assignment receipting
use: regular Grade column to provide feedback on submission
auto-release of feedback and feedback release options
use: hiding options consistent with other columns in Grade Centre
notify: students of anticipated availability of feedback

12. Blackboard Assignments & Feedback Rubrics: reminders and tips
Avoid setting out-of-hours deadlines:
e.g. after 4pm, at weekends or University holidays
Provide contact information for students in case of difficulties
When providing instructions:
lengthy instructions, assignment briefs etc. are best provided as separate files attached to the Assignment or as a separate item outside of the Assignment
use the instructions box to highlight key information about the Assignment, e.g.:
word length
how to present work (e.g. permitted file type, number of files)
reminder of submission deadline
when and how feedback will be returned
how students should notify you of any learning contract requirements
make reference to SHU Academic Misconduct Regulations and Procedures

13. Blackboard Assignments & Feedback Rubrics: reminders and tips
To ensure students receive feedback at the same time, before marking remember to:
hide from students the Assignment/Grade Column before marking - the best time to do this is immediately after creating the Assignment or Grade Column
hide from students any Weighted or Total Columns that include the Assignment, to prevent the student from deducing their grade
show Feedback Rubric to students without Feedback Rubric scores - the best time to do this is at the same time as associating the Feedback Rubric with the Assignment or Grade Column

14. Blackboard Assignments & Feedback Rubrics: reminders and tips
Choose an appropriate Feedback Rubric:
Point and percent type Feedback Rubrics award a pre-set value for the level of achievement selected
Point-range type Feedback Rubrics allow a value to be selected within each level of achievement:
each level of achievement needs to be set up with the lowest to highest value (e.g. 70 to 100, 60 to 69 etc., or 0 to 39, 40 to 49, etc.)
if the raw total is not out of 100, a percent-value may need to be calculated manually
No points type Feedback Rubrics give greater flexibility, but if marks are included in the feedback, the total will need to calculated manually

15. Contact Stuart Hepplestone S.J.Hepplestone@shu.ac.uk
SHU e-learning blog:
elearningatshu.wordpress.com