Grading in the 21st Century: Efficiency Tips for Online Faculty

Goodbye Red Pen, Hello Keyboard Grading is a daunting task for even veteran instructors. After a while typing the same comments over and over again gets tiresome and feedback quality can diminish. However, there is no need to reinvent the wheel each time a paper is graded. With a few tools youcan grade much more quickly and efficiently, saving you time and energy and providing quality feedback to your students.

Macros Macros

are my best friend. There are a number of macro programs available for Windows and MAC, usually at a small cost. (Note, many of these programs also offer a free trial period. I recommend trying the program before you buy. If your first macro program doesn't fit your needs, there are many more to pick from.) Macros allow you to record certain things that you type. For instance, if you commonly provide feedback that a paper should be double spaced, you can write out onedetailed comment and record it as a macro. To play back, or type your comment you just type in the shortcut you assigned to it. Instead of typing the same comment again and again, spend time writing the comment once with lots of detail.(You can always edit your macros later if you missed something.) One of my favorite things to do is to also include a link to a resource, tutorial, or example along with some of my comments. This way students have a resource to help them correct the problem and implement the change in future assignments. Anything that helps students prevent future errors will be a time-saver for your grading too!

Grading Toolbars

If setting up your own macros is not your cup of tea, there are some programs available which provide pre-made macros via an easily accessible toolbar in MS Word. Grading toolbars are rather costly and only provide a limited number ofcomments, but still have the value of saving time in grading.

Rubrics

Rubrics are a time-saver for a few reasons. They establish the grading criteria and can help prevent misunderstandings about what the assignment expectations are. By using a rubric your students can better see where their score came from. The less arbitrary the grade seems to the student, the less questions and considerations you will need to take into account. Be sure to let students know how you use the rubric. Do you deduct points? Or do all students begin with a zero and earn their way up? Proactively give your students tips onhow to maximize their grades. This not only contributes to student success, but saves you time in providing feedback for corrections.

Quick Parts

If you aren't using the Quick Parts function in MS Word you are missing out! Quick Parts is a macro function, but can only be used in MS Word. What makes Quick Parts different is that you can highlight anything in a Word document and save it as a Quick Part for future use. This is especially handy for keeping the formatting of your rubric intact. Instead of copying and pasting your rubric from another Word document each time you grade a paper, you cansave it as a Quick Part and insert it seamlessly. This is especially helpful when working with multiple classes or multiple assignment rubrics.

Dictation Software

There are a number of dictation software programs available, as wellas some which come standard on newer computers. Dictation softwaredoes come with a bit of a learning curve, but the bottom line is that unless you are a true speed typists, you can speak much faster than type.Once your program is set up responding to emails, making discussion postings, and providing comments on assignments is incredibly fast and easy. The down side to dictation software is that background noises can interfere with the program's ability to understand the dictation, so having a quiet working environment is a must.

Getting Started

It will take a bit of an investment in your time to set up features like these in your grading routine, but thepayoff is well worth it. I have reduced my grading time by more than half by using Quick Parts and a macro program alone. Your time is valuable. If you can provide richer, and more substantial feedback to your students in less time, it is well worth the time to get started!