Discussion Participation Rubric
The instructor will holistically assess discussion participation.
Open class discussion is a measure of student engagement. It is how the instructor "sees" a student think and demonstrates a student has been in attendance.
A maximum of 20 points may be earned each week .
Discussion participation will determine 50% of the course grade (200 points possible).
Participation Expectations
- Submit your initial discussion posting for the first activity in each module by Wednesday or sooner each week.
What should I include in an initial posting?- Add a source to back up your thoughts. Show that you are connecting the readings (or other sources you know of) to the question so that your response is more than opinion or experience.
- Relate the question/topic to your professional practice, demonstrating critical thinking and reflection.
- Responses to peers are due by Sunday night, not required by Day 3.
What should I include in a response to my peers?
Ask a new related question or make an oppositional statement supported by personal experience or related research.
Written interactions on the discussion board show respect and sensitivity to peers' gender, cultural and linguistic background, political and religious beliefs. - To earn full points, submit response postings to initial postings of peers throughout each week.
Be active and participate in the discussion on two or more days a week. Don't submit all your response postings on one day or only at the beginning or only on the last day of the module.
NOTE: Discussion postings and responses submitted after the last day of the module will not receive credit for discussion points.
For example, no points will be awarded if Week 2's discussion postings are submitted during Week 3.
| Criteria | Unsatisfactory 0 Points Possible |
Partially Proficient 10 Points Possible |
Proficient 15 Points Possible |
Distinguished 20 Points Possible |
| Participation in the Learning Community | The required posts and responses to peers are missing. | Two of the required posts/responses are missing. Discussion postings respond to postings of peers several days after the initial discussion and/or respond all in one day. | One of the required posts/responses to peers is missing. |
Meets all two criteria:
|
Criteria: Critical Analysis
Understanding of Readings and Outside References
To receive the maximum number of points, initial discussion postings or responses to peers must meet the following criteria:
- Clear, accurate, and authoritative information in response to the assigned task for each of the module’s activities or in response to a peer’s initial post.
- Includes citations/authority for additional resources/ideas.
- Minimum of fifty words.
- Clearly adds value to the original post of classmates with added information, i.e., idea for use, and includes citations for additional sources.
- Goes beyond “I agree” or “Interesting fact…” – comment adds to the discussion.
Explanation of Point System
Partial completion of the elements will result in partial points.
In the gradebook, the rating will be assigned as either Distinguished (20/20), Proficient 15/20) or Partially Proficient (10/20). Not everyone will score 20 points.
If a failing grade is posted (10 points or 0 points) and you do not understand why, email the instructor to discuss how to improve your discussion participation for the coming week.