{"669340":{"#nid":"669340","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Research Explores Fair Grading in Large CS Classes  ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EA team of School of Computing Instruction (SCI) lecturers is implementing grading rubrics to help ensure fair grading in large computer science (CS) classes.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EGrading coding assignments for these courses presents a unique set of challenges. The subjective nature of evaluating code correctness can lead to inconsistencies and biases among graders. SCI Lecturers Nimisha Roy and Rodrigo Borela Valente researched these challenges. They studied the effects of introducing guidelines for fair grading through a teaching assistant (TA) training workshop.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEarlier this month, they presented their poster Creating Equitable Grading Practices with Rubrics at the ACM International Computing Education Research Conference (ICER).\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EEvaluating coding assignments is not straightforward, especially in large CS classes with multiple TAs. Researchers say variability in grading can arise from differences in interpretation and personal biases. This issue becomes even more pronounced when multiple TAs are involved in evaluating different submissions of the same problem, potentially leading to inconsistencies in grading. Addressing these challenges is crucial to ensuring an equitable learning environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERubrics offer a structured approach to grading that can help mitigate biases and inconsistencies. By outlining specific criteria for assessing student work, rubrics provide a common framework that graders can follow. This framework promotes objectivity and ensures fair evaluation of all students.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe team says that for rubrics to work, they must be simple, specific, and easy to understand for instructors, graders, and students.\u202fWith coding assignments, they say the final output may not always reflect the student\u0027s grasp of the topics. Therefore, assigning partial points based on conceptual understanding is important rather than solely focusing on output.\u003Cspan\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn this study, the team conducted a hands-on TA training workshop to explore the effectiveness of rubrics in grading coding assignments in a core undergraduate CS course. The workshop provided 50 TAs with training to assess the impact of rubrics on grading bias and consistency.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EParticipants were first given two sample incorrect solutions to a problem and asked to grade them at their discretion. In the second round, they re-graded using a rubric with assigned points to different solution components.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIn our workshop, teaching assistants graded assignments with and without these rubrics. The findings were remarkable; using the rubrics significantly reduced grading inconsistencies,\u201d Roy said. \u201cAdditionally, we incorporated data visualizations to highlight the differences in grading, making our approach both unique and effective.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe workshop incorporated data visualization to highlight the differences in grading outcomes between the two rounds. The results of each round were reported anonymously, and a real-time graph displayed the grade distribution. This allowed TAs to visualize the impact of rubrics on grading consistency, prompting discussion on biases and best practices for using rubrics.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ERoy and Borela Valente say their approach to this research can extend beyond CS. The workshop\u2019s design opens opportunities for refining teaching strategies and promoting ethical considerations in all education.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Computing Instruction lecturers are implementing grading rubrics to address inconsistencies and biases in evaluating coding assignments in large computer science classes. They recently shared their findings at the ACM International Computing Education Research Conference highlighting the potential for this approach to enhance fair grading practices in education more broadly.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A new grading rubric for coding assignments developed by School of Computing Instruction lecturers is helping mitigate biases and inconsistencies."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2023-09-01 13:20:35","changed_gmt":"2023-09-01 13:27:51","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-08-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2023-08-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"671569":{"id":"671569","type":"image","title":"School of Computing Instruction Lecturers Nimisha Roy and Rodrigo Borela Valente with their poster at the recent ACM International Computing Education Research Conference.","body":null,"created":"1693574443","gmt_created":"2023-09-01 13:20:43","changed":"1693574443","gmt_changed":"2023-09-01 13:20:43","alt":"School of Computing Instruction Lecturers Nimisha Roy and Rodrigo Borela Valente with their poster at the recent ACM International Computing Education Research Conference.","file":{"fid":"254654","name":"pic2_icer copy.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/01\/pic2_icer%20copy.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/09\/01\/pic2_icer%20copy.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":81996,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/09\/01\/pic2_icer%20copy.jpeg?itok=EHLUdTUx"}}},"media_ids":["671569"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"135","name":"Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEmily Smith, Communications Officer\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESchool of Computing Instruction\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003Eemily.smith@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}