The development of an online grading system for distributed grading in a large first year project-based design course

Abstract

This paper presents an online grading system that was developed to collect, process, and return the grades produced by juries using a series of rubrics in a first year project-based design course. It discusses the design requirements, features, and implementation of the online grading system, as well as reactions from course faculty and staff members. It is shown that this system has a number of advantages over analog grading methods, including scalability, real-time feedback on the status of grading, the reduced potential for human error in compiling grades, the ability for jury members to grade remotely and to revise their grades after submission, the ability for course administrators to easily review grading results and remove statistical outliers from the score set the ability to return both provisional and final grades to the course faculty, staff, and students in a timely manner, and the ability to archive and export grading data for future use. Although the online system is a clear improvement over paper-based rubrics, it is also shown that small details can interfere with usability and thus user satisfaction and that compatibility with mobile devices is a necessary, but still unaddressed, requirement.