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Blended learning is becoming more and more popular. I’m a proponent of using Moodle for blended learning because it is open source, has a long history of development, and is extremely flexible.

One aspect of blended learning is real world assignments. Not everything can, or should be, digital. However, in a blended learning world, tracking those real world assignments should be cohesive with online material.

I’ve written about grading student speeches (a definite real world application) using Moodle and rubrics. That still works. Since I published that four years ago, a quick overview is in order. In Moodle, set up an assignment with nothing selected for Submissions. Select (or create) your rubric. As students give their speech, complete the rubric. Students receive truly timely feedback. The teacher is done with grading by the time the students are sitting in their seats (no more nights of translating notes, transferring grades, etc.)

However, I’d like to take this even further. I’d like to have the students acknowledge that they have received the feedback. Plus, I’d like them to be able to respond. Finally, I’d like to have a “pretty” printable version (sometimes we still need to print things).

The Assignment module hack almost accomplishes those things. The rubric works great. However, students can’t respond, nor can the acknowledge receipt of the feedback. (I’m really considering something like the way a student can acknowledge that they didn’t cheat when turning something in). Printing is UGLY.

Using the Assignment module really is a hack. See the perspective of Assignment is that the students are turning something in. What I’m proposing (requesting?, considering, dreaming of), is something that is from a teacher to student feedback perspective. The student is the really the genesis, the teacher is starting the process. This is more of a coaching perspective. The coach (teacher) gives feedback on the performance of the student. The student takes that feedback, makes some corrections and continues. Ideally, the teacher could provide updated feedback.

*This conversation was begun over in the Moodle Forums. If you are a member, or willing to create a free account, please head over there and add your thoughts.

The posting is duplicated below:

Grading “Real World” assignments

I’m looking for a way to grade real world assignments. Not just grade though, but have a documentable copy of that grading.

For one example, let’s say that the students are presenting on a certain topic. (I do see other uses, such as Project-based learning, creating models, cooking an example dish, building a cardboard boat, etc).

Current situation:

We use the Assignment Module. The student doesn’t have to submit anything. We have a rubric set up that the teacher then uses to grade and provide feedback. Some of the teachers will “forget” to mark the rubric “Released” to student. We then click on the rubric and select “Print”. The rubric and Feedback is printed and then signed by the student.

Ideal situation

The teacher pulls up a Rubric. The teacher has the list of students to pick from. The teacher uses the Rubric to grade appropriately. The teacher also provides feedback. A copy of the results are released to the student. The student acknowledges the receipt of the feedback. (This could be similar to the submission statement feature but at the end acknowledging receipt). There is a report or a print button to allow the teacher to print the rubric, the feedback and the student’s acknowledgement.