Session 5.4: Using Criterion level Grade Descriptors to individualise electronic assignment feedback

Everingham, Fran

Students in the postgraduate Health Science (Education) program come from across the health professions and study by distance using print-based delivery and WebCt. Their assignment work is report-based and reflects multiple work contexts and cultures. The challenge has been to find a reliable and efficient way to (1) judge diverse work-based assignment content, and (2) give individualised and detailed electronic feedback.

A literature review regarding ‘grade descriptors was undertaken. A preliminary set of grade descriptors for each assignment criteria was drafted using Biggs SOLO taxonomy (1992) as anchors. Content-specific elaboration was undertaken using action research over several assessment cycles. The descriptors were personalised as ‘feedback’ by the using the marker’s authentic comments that would otherwise be hand written on a paper assignment.

Marking for each assignment is now undertaken using an electronic master set of criterion level grade descriptors which vary in length from 2000-2800 words. The master is copied for each student assignment. Using the ‘cut’ function a 500-700 word feedback report is generated during marking and later sent as an email attachment to the relevant student.

The approach increases the spread of student marks ; is useful for judging the grades of more ambiguous cases, and, for determining ‘feedback at the borders’ of grades, but, is tedious to apply to poorly constructed papers that fail to follow the assignment requirements. Students report satisfaction with their detailed feedback.

Biggs, J. (1992) A qualitative approach to grading students. HERSDA News 14: 3: 3-6