Grading Google Docs with a rubric

Using Google Classroom makes giving formative feedback on student writing very easy, but final grading can be more challenging. Paperless grading using a rubric can be even more daunting. Orange Slice, an add-on for Google Docs developed by a teacher, lets you view a virtual rubric, select grades and automatically process the grade

Here's how to try this out:

1. Go to a Google Doc and choose Add-ons --> Get add-ons. 
2. Search for Orange Slice
3. When you first launch this, you'll create a rubric. Choose your setting for the type of rubric, the skills you are assessing, and the point value.
4. Once the rubric exists, you can modify the content, type and point value, and can cut and paste rubrics from prior assignments (so you only need to create it once). 
5. Then, grade the assignment using the rubric. You can make changes until you process the grade. Once you process, Orange Slice will give you a completed rubric and a a score (either percentage or grade, depending on your settings). 

This is not without its flaws, but it's worth playing with, especially if you're looking to move toward more paperless evaluation. You can read more about it at the developer's Google + page.

Have you used this tool or do you have another solution for rubric grading? Please share!

New resources for research

The library is expanding the resources available to teachers and students on campus. This year we have added two new subscription databases: Gale Opposing Viewpoints and JSTOR.

Opposing Viewpoints covers controversial social issues with a variety of scholarly yet accessible sources. It has some great usability features, including an "add to Google Classroom" one-click option that allows teachers and students to link an article to a Google Classroom post or assignment. This can be a quick way to see the sources students are considering as they research.

By popular demand, JSTOR is also now available, providing access to a variety of scholarly journals, primary sources and books, particularly in humanities and social sciences. JSTOR does a particularly good job of helping students understand the background and context of the sources they're using. It's largely limited to scholarly journals (unlike Gale and EBSCO, another database Homestead subscribes to, which both aggregate consumer publications as well). 

You can try these tools through the Homestead library website.