Using a written communication rubric to improve students' writing

Sandra L. Ramey; L. VandeVusse; M. Gosline

Nursing faculty from Marquette University developed and piloted a written communication rubric intended to improve students' writing. A rubric is an assessment tool that elaborates descriptions of expected student performance at various levels of achievement. Thus, a rubric can clarify expectations for students, improve teaching and expedite grading of papers for faculty.Classroom research can provide evidence to inform curricular decisions and improve effectiveness that contributes to academic improvement. Institutions of higher education are mandated to monitor and improve student achievement by accrediting bodies and by society. The goal of classroom research is to develop reliable and valid measures of student progress. Rubrics may be more effective when piloted and improved using feedback from students and faculty. However, systematic study examining outcomes related to rubric use is limited. In Fall 2005, nursing faculty piloted a written communication rubric adapted from a model in use at Iowa State University. Faculty in courses with formal papers voluntarily piloted the rubric, using performance descriptors to rate student achievement. Three evaluation tools (produced as teleforms) were developed to analyze faculty and student data. Three inter-raters (two faculty and one teaching assistant) reviewed ten randomly selected student papers for reliability (Cronbach's alpha =.8250). Triangulation using quantitative and qualitative data from faculty (n = 6) and students (n = 109) indicated that rubric use clarified expectations for formal papers. However, numerous suggestions to improve the rubric were also received. Data from these evaluations is being used to refine the rubric, with resultant improvement in student learning as the intended outcome. Data analysis regarding rubric use provided valuable information about the rubric, the need to increase formal writing opportunities within the curriculum, and the importance of consistent faculty expectations. Communicating professionally in writing is imperative for students to compete on a global scale. Graduates who write effectively contribute both as professional nurses and as citizens of the world.

Using a written communication rubric to improve students' writing

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