I did notice the difference between the group exam (many brains) and the individual exam (lonely brain). I have wondered about the difference often, and the class notes on Chapter 8 finally confirmed my lonely thoughts. I understand it and it makes sense for tests.

However, not giving clear, detailed rubrics for assignments and brochures does not enhance creativity. It takes me back to the days when I was in school, prior to rubrics. The teacher would give assignments, we would do them and upon return finally figure out what the teacher actually wanted. Rubrics give the student a base for creativity. A student fulfills the basic requirements of the level 3 and then tries to springboard into level 4 with creativity. The student is still assured of a level 3 = security, motivated to achieve level 4 with creativity. It is not terribly motivating to get an assignment returned only to find out, the teacher's mindset of requirements were completely different from the student's.

Also, DiBono's thinking hats is amazing and needs to be introduced the first week of the course not glazed over in January. Many groups are floundering and self distructing at this point in the course. Hat awareness could have helped me just deal with the different personalities of my group.

My last and final issue is this. The group presentations are dandy and humourous on occasion but the amount of time needs to be balanced. There needs to be an equal amount of you talking. The lecture material you could be providing (not everybody has time to look for class notes on the internet) would enhance the textbook stuff because it is more interesting. Since Christmans, all my learning in this course has been by writing notes out of a very concept dense, stiff worded, tough to slog through, 30 pages per chapter textbook.

These are just my thoughts. You should probably just delete them.

Thank you

I appreciate your thoughts and comments.

1. You may be right about rubrics and creativity, but you don't provide an argument. I think it is a good research question that someone should explore, though. Perhaps a Master's thesis? However, my rationale is based on observations over the years using different formats. In a course one year I allowed the students to design their own evaluation protocol and criteria. Talk about vague! The students did far more and at a higher quality than I would have requested or required. They hated it though. I suspect the reason was because it forced them to invest more time in the evaluation tasks. The same thing occurs when I give very detailed descriptions of what I would be looking for. Students invest a great deal of time and effort in trying to fulfill every single detail identified, and that can be frustrating and counterproductive. And they hate it. When I give some details and some models (which are sort of like rubrics) I get fewer complaints, and very creative products from some individuals.

Another problem with rubrics is it could force us to adopt a lower grading system. The university expects students to be working in the average range for the most part (i.e., C or B). If 90% of students complete a project at level 4 that would translate into a C or B grade, where a norm-referenced grading system is used. A ranking format rather than a rubric format allows for more students with higher grades.

2. Re DeBono's hats, three things. First, if you, or others, had not had the opportunity to struggle with dysfunctional groups you might not have a sense of appreciation for functional strategies (whether it be DeBono or Johnson and Johnson, or whatever). Second, if you knew how many times I have heard this or that, or the other should be in the first couple of weeks (e.g., development, multiculturalism, motivation, group dynamics, cooperative learning, assessment, learning problems, behaviour management, writing objectives, dealing with parents, and so on) you would have the impression that everything should be in the first two weeks.

3. Re group presentations. Every year I rethink this process. Every year less class time is allocated to these. Now it is typically 30 to 40 minutes. I appreciate your problem sitting through some of them but here's my concern. (1) The students who learn the most from them are the students who prepare them (with respect to both form and content). This goes back to my point in the first class: If you want to maximize your students' learning get them to teach. Teaching takes practice. The music teacher and the parent sits through a lot of bad violin sounds and piano sounds before the student reaches a pleasant level. I think we as teachers need to acquire a level of patience that will serve our students well, wouldn't you agree. (2) There are some presentations that don't get shown each year and I'm always a little distraught when these students approach me later and show their obvious disappointment (even hurt) that theirs wasn't shown. (3) Remember you sit through one class of these each week. I sit through five or six classes. If anyone would have an incentive to change the format it would be me, wouldn't you think? (4) Do you not find that you learn from watching the mistakes that people make as well as from their successes? (5) Is learning painful?

4. Re deleting your thoughts. No way! I loved them. In fact I would like to post them and my response if I had your permission. I could post them under your name, or your initials, or a pseudonym, or anonymously. ???

Have a good week!

Please understand, I was not complaining about your course. It was midnight on a Saturday and the world seemed crystal clear at that moment.

The entire rubrics/evaluation system in the school system needs rethinking. My background is agricultural research, which involved a Master's in plant pathology and countless days rating research plots for disease severity. The way we evaluate student's work is not very different from rating a research plot. This does not feel right. It does not address the continuum of learning. Rubrics at least give the students some clue of the process of evaluation and that is more fair.

I'll express my opinion and argue them any day...just ask my husband.

Thank you again.