A Novel Rubric Format for Providing Feedback on Process Skills to STEM Undergraduate Students

Abstract

To improve student process-skill development, a novel type of rubric was developed that goes beyond a typical analytic rubric by providing detailed feedback to students. Process skills are transferable skills such as information processing, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork; these skills are necessary for success in all STEM courses as well as in the workforce. In addition to the categories and descriptors commonly found in rubrics, these “feedback-style” rubrics also contain observable characteristics and suggestions for improvement. The observable characteristics provide specific criteria to look for when assessing students’ written work or group interactions. The suggestions for improvement are intended to promote a growth mindset in students and help them further progress in their development of each skill. In a large-enrollment class, undergraduate teaching assistants (UTA) used the feedback rubrics to rate student skills while students also self-assessed their skills. The results of our statistical analysis indicate that after the feedback rubrics were provided to students, their subsequent selfassessments became more similar to the UTA scores. These rubrics can be used in STEM disciplines at multiple course levels to assess and provide feedback to students on their skill development.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Doug Czajka

Doug Czajka is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Science at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Gil Reynders

Gil Reynders is a professor of chemistry at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois.

Courtney Stanford

Courtney Stanford is an assistant professor of chemistry and chemistry education at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.

Renée Cole

Renée Cole is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.

Juliette Lantz

Juliette Lantz is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Suzanne Ruder

Suzanne Ruder ([email protected]) is a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.