In this lesson, you will learn the step-by-step process for evaluating assessments to ensure fair, objective, and high-quality grading. Following a structured process helps you stay consistent and ensures learners receive actionable feedback. Below is a detailed breakdown of the recommended steps, along with helpful tips to guide you through the evaluation process.
The following interactives list the steps in logical order. Please click through them to learn more about what each step entails.
Begin by thoroughly reading the assignment instructions. This will give you context on what the learners were expected to do.
Pay close attention to any examples provided in the instructions, as they indicate what is expected from learners.
Tip: Familiarize yourself with
Skimming through the relevant learning materials will help you understand the concepts the learner applied in the assignment.
This step ensures you can better appreciate how the learner interpreted and applied their learning in their submission.
Read the rubric carefully before starting the evaluation. This will help you understand what is being assessed and the expectations for each section or criterion.
Tip: Since the rubric is binary, treat it as a checklist—either the criterion is met, or it is not.
Assessments are often broken into sections or questions, each with its own criteria.
Evaluate one section or question at a time before moving to the next. This helps maintain focus and ensures you don’t overlook anything.
Tip: Use the rubric to match criteria to each part of the submission as you go.
Refer to the rubric often as you evaluate, especially if you are unsure about how a response meets a specific criterion.
Tip: If you're uncertain about any rubric element, contact the Learning Design team or the TRO team for clarification.
Write feedback immediately after evaluating each section or question. This ensures the feedback is accurate and relevant to the specific part you just reviewed.
Tip: Include both positive feedback (what was done well) and constructive feedback (what could be improved).
Once you’ve completed the evaluation of all sections, go back and review the entire submission to ensure you didn’t miss anything.
Tip: Make sure the rubric was applied correctly, and that the points assigned align with the criteria.
After reviewing the entire submission, write an overall summary of the learner’s performance.
This summary should include a holistic evaluation, mentioning both strengths and areas for improvement.
Ensure that your feedback is complete and clear. Double-check the points assigned against the rubric and submit the evaluation.
Tip: If the submission contains multiple files (e.g., PDFs and linked documents), confirm that everything has been evaluated before submitting.
Before sharing the evaluation checklist, let's look at a few tips that could help you make your evaluations better and more efficient. The following graphics provide some pointers that you will find very useful while grading. Following these steps will help you maintain consistency and provide high-quality feedback to learners. Click through them to find out what they are!
Here’s a chronologically ordered list to guide you through each evaluation. You can keep a copy of it with you if you want, however, once you start using it, you'll soon be able to repeat the process without even looking!
You can download a copy of this checklist by clicking the button below. Simply click the download option from the menu, once redirected to the checklist page.