Richard D. Solomon's Blog on Mentoring Jewish Students and Teachers: Introduction to Rubistar, a free rubric-making web tool

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Introduction to Rubistar, a free rubric-making web tool

When mentoring our pre-service and in-service teachers we need to describe and model both research-based and clinically tested best practices, and demonstrate how these best practices can be applied in the real (i.e. physical) and virtual (i.e. online) classroom for both teaching and teacher training. The combination of face to face instruction in a physical setting and online learning is called blended learning. In this section of the blog we will describe how the internet can serve as a supplemental resource for instruction and the mentoring of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators. In this post we will begin our discussion on how Rubistar, a free rubric making web tool, can be used for Judaic instruction and the mentoring/ teaching of pre-service and in-service Jewish educators.

Before we explore how to use Rubistar, let’s define what a rubric is and the rationale for using rubrics in instruction.

What is a rubric and what is its rationale?

A rubric is an assessment instrument matrix that a teacher and perhaps his/her students create to evaluate student performance for a given assignment. The vertical columns in the matrix provide the performance standards for the assignment. The horizontal rows describe the criteria for each performance standard. See the sample rubric below:

Suggested Checklist of Exit Interactive Competencies (Performance Standards) for the

Madrich or Madricha

Howard, L.B, (2006). The Madrichim Manual: Six Steps to Becoming a Jewish Role Model. Springfield, NJ: Behrman House.

[Taken from Solomon, R and E (2009). Toolbox for Teachers and Madrichim: Moving Madrichim to Mentor Teachers and Beyond. Tucson, AZ: Wheatmark Publishers]

Performance Criteria

Developing: The madrich or madricha is beginning to implement the competency.

Basic: The madrich or madricha satisfactorily implements the competency.

Proficient: The madrich or madricha implements the competency with ease and fluidity, and makes smooth adjustments to different classroom situations.

Interactive Competencies or Performance Standards	Not Evident	Developing	Basic	Proficient
Greeting students as they enter the classroom
Helping students with their art projects
Assisting students with class work
Leading students in small group activities
Leading transitions between activities
Reading stories to the class
Tutoring students who need extra help
Mentoring students who have difficulty focusing during class
Temporarily taking charge of the class if the teacher is indisposed
Teaching a five minute mini-lesson to a small group of students or the entire class
Participating in and leading portions of a prayer service

What is the rationale for using a rubric in instruction?

Rubrics help teachers teach their subject matter.
Rubics clarify for students what they are expected to learn and how they will be graded.
Rubrics coordinate instruction with assessment

For additional information on rubrics click on these two links:

http://www.ucdenver.edu/faculty_staff/faculty/center-for-faculty-development/Documents/Tutorials/Rubrics/1_what_is/index.htm

Assumption: The teacher or mentor teacher has an interactive white board (i.e. SMART Board, Promethean, etc.), a Tablet PC (also called a Slate or Blade), a computer presenter or computer with internet access attached to an LCD projector in the classroom. It would be ideal if students or mentees had access to their own laptop computers or Ipads. Given parental and school approval, and the development of specific guidelines, smartphones can be used to enhance instruction as well.

Note: Although Rubistar can be applied in the Judaic Studies blended learning classroom, it can be also be used for training pre-service and in-service Jewish educators for professional or staff development. It is our hope that Jewish educators around the globe will form an online community of practice, a CoP, a group of people who share an interest, a craft, and/or a profession, to enhance the delivery of instruction and training of Jewish educators. For example, here is a CoP you might want to join.

Note: Rubistar can be used in a face to face and virtual classroom.

Where is Rubistar located on the internet?

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

What is Rubistar?

Rubistar is a free rubric making web tool.

Where can I find tutorials demonstrating how to use Rubistar?

Click on the links below to find tutorials on using Rubistar:

On the next blog post we will discuss how Rubistrar, a free rubric making web tool, can be used to promote instruction in the blended learning classroom.