GIA – Course Instructor Communication Tip

Congratulations on becoming a GIA!


Here are some tips to help you in your transition:

  1. Schedule a meeting with your assigned instructor early in the semester to discuss expectations.
    • We recommend cross examining your own course syllabi with your instructor(s) syllabus. Look at the weeks where you have big projects due and see if they overlap with when your assigned GIA course has exams AND assignments due in the same week. Discuss expectations.
  2. Sit with your assigned instructor and have them watch you grade.
    • This will help both you and the instructor get a feel for how you grade, and for any preferences they may have in how their homework and exams are graded.
    • This will help alleviate any stress or misunderstandings that may occur if addressed mid to late semester.
  3. Tips for grading:
    • Use a Timer:
      • ​​​​​​A timer can be helpful in tracking how much time you can spend grading an assignment based on the allotted hours. If you go over your allotted hours, be sure to discuss this with your instructor and ask for grading tips.
    • Blind grade:
      • Covering the students' names can help prevent any possible bias.
    • Use short comments in the margins and elaborate when needed or at the end.
    • Use marking symbols (but make sure students have access to the key).
  4. Use a scoring rubric
    • Building a rubric that is easily accessible in Canvas gives students easy access to the grading rubric for the course and/or specific assignments.
    • How to build a rubric in Canvas:
      • On the Home Page, click on the “Rubric” tab along the left side of the screen:
        • ​​​​Click “Add Rubric” and give the rubric a title.
        • From here you can set up your parameters (see example below)

 

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE EXAMPLE OF WRITING ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC:

Uploaded image

 

Helpful Resources:

https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/uwindsorgata/chapter/effective-assessment-and-evaluation/

https://taylorinstitute.ucalgary.ca/resources/consistent-and-effective-grading

https://tilt.colostate.edu/grad-students/best-practices-for-faculty-and-graduate-assistant-professional-interactions/

https://faculty.chass.ncsu.edu/slatta/HI885/Sp16/grading_guide.pdf

 

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