Tips for communicating with students in online classes

Grading rubrics are an extremely useful tool for setting and communicating expectations. They give students a clear picture of the criteria by which their work will be assessed, thus avoiding misunderstandings and increasing transparency. It is advisable to create a rubric for each significant activity, whether it is a written assignment, an oral presentation, a test or a practical exercise. In this way, students can know in advance what is required of them in order to achieve different levels of success (from basic to excellent results). It is especially important not to keep rubrics only for teaching staff, but to share them with students at the beginning of the course or at least before each individual activity. In this way, rubrics become an integral part of the communication plan and help students realistically plan their own work, allocate time and recognize what quality in their assignments means.