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The instructional goals of a discussion are typically different from other kinds of activities. The way you grade a discussion should also be different. A good discussion helps students explore ideas, express opinions, and make connections in novel and creative ways. There is often no correct answer to a question in a discussion prompt. Imprecise and informal responses may be acceptable or even desirable. In order to encourage participation and experimentation, focus your grading on engagement and completion.
Grade on a complete/incomplete basis and provide full credit for every reasonable post.
For more complex or more formal posts, provide students with a grading rubric that includes every criterion you plan to use for grading. Grade each criterion in a binary manner: full credit for every reasonable effort.
Provide corrective feedback early. Grade the first discussion in your course as soon as possible and provide feedback to every student (if possible).
How to set-up grading on Canvas
How to set an assignment to complete/incomplete
How to attach a rubric to a discussion
For information on how to set-up due dates see Technical and Logistical Parameters.
Grading
Initial Post .75
Reply to Classmates .25
Please see the grading rubric for guidance on what is expected for full credit. Click the 3-dot icon, then select "Show Rubric."
Flexible Grading Policy
To receive full participation credit, you must post at least three responses during this summer session and reply to your peers five times. I will be reviewing the discussion forum weekly and responding regularly throughout the quarter. You are not required to post every week but rather encouraged to post as often as you'd like. Please review the grading rubric for this assignment (located in the three-dot menu, upper left of this assignment).
All discussion prompts must reference the readings, so please respond to the weekly prompt during the same week in order to get credit. In other words, your post must be current to that week's assigned reading or topic and your reply must be on a peer's post within the week that it was first posted. This keeps the discussion forum lively and focused on our topics current to our weekly focus. Please do not save all of this work for the last three weeks. Our Learning Community appreciates students who exceed the minimum number of posts.
All posts and replies will be reviewed and scored by your instructor after the due date in Week Five.
Writing a Discussion Post - Grading - Community Standards
Teaching Students How to Post - Technical and Logistical Parameters