Skills like communication, teamwork and design are undoubtedly a part of higher education but they are not as easy to quantify as the quality of an essay or a score on a test. A recent research project at the University of Toronto explored the assessment of learning outcomes in five key competency areas: communication, teamwork, design, problem analysis and investigation. The researchers developed three versions of an assessment rubric for communication, teamwork and design respectively. They also developed a list of specific learning outcomes for two additional skills: problem analysis and investigation.
The rubrics developed through this project can be applied to a wide range of courses and assessment types; they can also be customized so that assessors can select not only within but also between performance levels.
In order for these rubrics to truly be effective, the research team emphasized the importance of faculty training and support. They also suggested that the bank of rubrics developed through this project be made more widely available to the greater U of T community (i.e., through their learning management system) so that more people can benefit from the insight they offer into student learning and performance.
Materials and Outcomes
Throughout the course of this project, updates and final reports will be posted here.
U of T rubrics assess student learning in communication , teamwork and design Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a set of rubrics to assess student learning in communication , teamwork and design , which can be applied to a wide range of courses and assessment types , according to a new report […]