Summary

Rubrics are much more powerful than marking guides and simple grading. Take time to get the wording correct and reflect a learner's growing ability. Personally, I can see that my relationship with my learners changes when I take the time to set up "the system" as the judge. (Even though, I am the course designer and I am "the system"). By me committing to a rule and having to enforce it, I lose my authoritarian status. Taking the mystery away from how I mark, reduces my (perceived) power.

Fairness has been my biggest lesson since using Gamification with a class of mainly young men. I have become more aware of my own inconsistencies and how generously my class tolerates my moods on different days. For example, is it fair if I don't make any comments about some students, especially the mature age students, being 5 minutes late from their lunch break? Once this was pointed out to me, I really had to think about the way I use my authority.

If a conscientious learner is occasionally late...