Step 6

STEP 6: EVALUATION

Typically the end product gets all of the attention during this phase of the research process. However, the skills associated with the research process are what students will most likely need in the future. It is important therefore that both the research process and the final product be assessed during the evaluative stage of the research process.

EVALUATING THE PROCESS

Students should be encouraged to assess their progress during and after the research process using one of several methods such as a checklist, process log, timeline or journal. This helps them determine their understanding of the research process, evaluate their use of time and ascertain progress. The teacher and/or Information Technology Specialist (ITS) should also check on students' progress from time to time during the research process, for example by meeting with them in groups or individually. Several methods can be used to assess a student's research skills upon completion of the assignment, including a process scale, checklist, rubric, or (electronic) portfolio system.

EVALUATING THE PRODUCT

A summative evaluation of the research product is done by the teacher and/or ITS to assess students' understanding of content and/or presentation of the final product. Valid instruments for summative assessment of information literacy skills include a checklist of skills, rubrics, inventories and/or portfolios of student work. Measuring instruments in other subject areas can easily be adapted to suit the purpose of a specific assignment, for example rubrics for speaking and writing developed for Language Arts.

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Two types of sites may be useful for teachers - web sites that describe the use of rubrics when evaluating an assignment, and then those that provide ready-to-go rubrics that can be adapted for and/or printed for own use.

Midlink Magazine: Rubrics

MidLink Magazine provides a number of rubrics (PDF format) that can be downloaded from the Internet by teachers. Teachers will find the rubric the NWREL's Six Traits of Writing Assessment Toolkit and the rubric for Multimedia Presentations particularly useful.

Rubric Bank

Provides a wide variety of performance assessment scoring rubrics that have been used by schools, districts and state departments of education throughout the country. The rubrics may be used "as-is" or they may be combined and modified in any way that is appropriate

Rubrics for Web Lessons

General discussion of and guidelines for developing and using rubrics as an authentic assessment tool. Rubrics are particularly useful in assessing criteria which are complex and subjective.

Staff Room" for Ontario Teachers Rubrics Collection

Literally hundreds of rubrics from all over the Internet. The list is so large that it may be overwhelming, but it is well organized. Levels vary; covers several different subject areas.

Step-by-Step Rubrics

This useful web site explains why teachers should use rubrics, provides examples of effective rubrics and gives step-by-step instructions to writing a rubric for any assignment.

Tools:RubiStar

RubiStar is a tool to help the teacher who wants to use rubrics but does not have the time to develop them from scratch.


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