This posting has helped to clarify for me how I want to structure my fall classes (MS/HS). Far too often I see students “rewarded” for producing an inferior product – possibly submitted late, frequently displaying little planning or evidence of effort – by a teacher who is grateful to finally have something to grade. Part of the problem is the lack of an assessment tool, like a rubric, available prior to the start of the project. It’s difficult for a student to meet or exceed expectations when unaware of the desired outcome. As you have pointed out, self-evaluation can take the form of journal entries, class discussions, various types of group interaction. Critiquing similar projects, done by their peers locally or in the wider world, would be another way to learn from concrete examples.

One of my favorite graduate professors marked our papers as “Acceptable”, “Work in Progress”, or “Exemplary”. This approach suggests that excellence is always possible for every learner.