When integrating online activities into a course, it’s important to clarify what is expected from all participants. How do the instructors define “participating”? What exactly is expected from students? From instructors? How will everyone know if they are participating at the level that is expected? If not, what are the repercussions and implications? How will the activity be graded?
One way to help everyone to understand expectations, and to define and describe levels of performance, is to develop a rubric. A well designed rubric lays out the criteria that instructors will use to assess performance in the activities, as well as defining the parameters for various levels of performance. Sharing the rubric with the entire class early in the process helps everyone understand what is expected, what roles they need to fulfill as part of the activities, and how their performance will affect their grades and other assessment.
Rainer Knopff developed a rubric for use in his political science courses, which integrate a blended learning approach with students participating in online discussions and collaborative inquiry to extend the classroom activities.
