1. Overcoming the Trials and Tribulations of Assessing Student Writing
Leanna Johnston and tara williamson

3. What is Assessment?
Assessment is a continuous process of documenting a student’s skills and knowledge. Teachers give feedback to help students improve their skills and knowledge.

4. Purpose of Assessment
Diagnostic – Assessment FOR learning (lower risk, high rewards)
Formative – Assessment FOR learning (low risk, high rewards)
Summative – Assessment OF learning (high risk, high rewards)

5. What are some challenges of assessing student writing?

6. Group Discussion Topics
1) Marking on paper vs. marking on an LMS
2) Rubrics vs. lists
3) Common marking code vs. individual comments
4) Marking every error vs. marking selective errors
5) Self-assessment vs. teacher assessment

7. Marking on Paper vs. LMS
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Please consider:
-How accessible is the feedback in both formats?
-How can we improve the accessibility of feedback on an LMS?
-Is there value in being able to access a marked assignment from anywhere?
-Do we lose the personal touch when we mark online?
-What are some best practices for marking on an LMS?

8. Rubrics vs. Checklists
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Please consider:
-What is the purpose of the writing assignment?
-How do we “scaffold” ongoing assessment to improve progress?
-How will students use the information given on the rubric?
-What do students want to know about their writing?

9. Common Marking Code vs. Individual Comments
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Please consider:
-What should we include in the marking code?
(minor and major grammar errors, word use, spelling, structure and coherence)
-What is the value of having consistent marking codes in your department?
-How many mistakes should we expect students to find on their own?
-How do we inform students about the code?

10. Marking every error vs. marking selective errors
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Please consider:
-What is our goal when we mark?
-Is it possible to give too much feedback?
-How will students respond to detailed/selective feedback?
-What kind of feedback will enable and empower students to improve their writing?
-Is there a difference between editing student work and offering meaningful feedback?

11. Self-assessment vs. teacher assessment
Discuss the merits and drawbacks of each. Please consider:
-What are the limitations of self-assessment and teacher assessment?
-How do teachers prepare students to assess themselves?
- At what points of a course should students self-assess and how often?
-How do we help students be objective?

12. Thank you! Leanna Johnston johnstl@algonquincollege.com
Tara Williamson