Relevant CAT: Scoring Rubrics

Discipline: Mathematics

Description:
The author has adapted an analytic and a holistic scoring rubric for use in grading solutions to short mathematical modeling problems. The analytic scoring rubric assesses students’ work in four areas: understanding of the problem, plan for solving the problem, students’ solution, and the quality of the students’ presentation of the material. Zero to three points are assigned in each area, and the final score is the sum of the scores in each of the four areas. The holistic scoring rubric assesses the students’ overall work by assigning one rating: exemplary response, good response, inadequate response, poor response, and no response. Criteria accompany each score. An example of student work and its grade appear in the article.

The author has used the rubrics for seven years, and reports that they work well in undergraduate and graduate classes. No inter-reliability rating or other validity testing has been done on the rubrics.


Tool:

The scoring rubric and the author’s description of its use can be accessed at the “Supporting Assessment in Undergraduate Mathematics” website on the Mathematical Association of America website: www.maa.org/SAUM/maanotes49/116.html

Author:

Charles E. Emenaker (Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science Department, Raymond Walters College, University of Cincinnati)


Selected References:

The rubrics were adapted from:

Charles, R., Lester, F., and O'Daffer, P. (1987). How to Evaluate Progress in Problem Solving. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Reston, Va.

Lester, F. and Kroll, D. (1991). Evaluation: A New Vision. Mathematics Teacher 84, 276-283.