FLOW has a grading functionality built in that will allow you to set up grading periods, create rubrics (if desired), grade individual assignments, and track your grades via the FLOW gradebook.
It is important to note that any FLOW users with the administrator user role are able to access the grading information in FLOW. As such, if you are using FLOW's grading functionalities, we advise that only the adviser have an administrator-level account.
For more information on how to set up grading on FLOW, view the video below.
How to Set Up Grading in FLOW
- Go to Settings and click on Grading. From there, enable FLOW's grading, set up your Grading Periods, and choose your Grading Style.
- Create any Grading Rubrics you'd like to use (see directions below).
- On the Stories page, click on the story you'd like to grade to open it. Then, click on the orange "Grade Story" button.
- Enter in grades for any of the assignees or select the applicable rubrics and fill them out to grade the assignment (see directions below).
- To bulk grade, click on the Grading Center icon. Use the filtering and/or search options to more easily find individual assignments you want to grade.
- To see or adjust your grades, click on the Gradebook icon.
How to Create FLOW Rubrics
One of the options for grading and providing student feedback in FLOW is by creating and applying FLOW rubrics. FLOW rubrics allow you to create customized rubrics, provide specific scoring data organized by criteria, and deliver individualized student feedback all in one place.
- Go to Settings, Grading Rubrics, then click on “Create New Rubric.”
- Give your rubric a title and select which assignment types will be able to use it.
- Add the “Rubric Criteria Groups” (big-picture objectives that you want your students to learn) and “Specified Criteria” (descriptions of specific skills within those groups) within each one.
- Customize your point values for each specific criterion.
- Click “Save Rubric” to store it for future use.
How to Apply a Rubric to a FLOW Assignment
Once a new rubric is created, simply locate the story you would like to grade, click on the “Grade Story” button and then “Grade Rubric” to add feedback right then and there.
Sample Rubrics
Here are some starter rubrics that our support team came up with. Feel free to modify them to fit your newsroom's grading needs.
General Writing Assignment
Criteria: Reporting
Sub-Criteria 1: Story is completely accurate and all proper nouns are spelled correctly. Facts are present and attributed properly, using embedded links when appropriate.
Sub-Criteria 2: Story is well researched, informs the reader of something new, uses at least three sources. Interesting direct quotes convey additional information.
Criteria: Writing
Sub-Criteria 1: The story is told with a solid focus in mind and still covers the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the subject. A specific focus occurs, stemming from a broader topic.
Sub-Criteria 2: The lead grabs the reader's attention OR the lead provides the who,what, where, when in the first paragraph.
Sub-Criteria 3: AP Style is used correctly.
Sub-Criteria 4: Spelling, grammar, and mechanics are all correct.
General Photo Assignment
Criteria: Shooting
Sub-Criteria 1: Photos are framed using the rule of thirds
Sub-Criteria 2: There is a clear subject in the photo and the subject is in focus
Sub-Criteria 3: Lighting is used appropriately (photographer demonstrates understanding of aperture and shutter speed)
Sub-Criteria 4: A variety of shot distances, angles, and photographer positions are demonstrated.
Criteria: Editing
Sub-Criteria 1: Photos cropped and resized with copies saved for web and print.
Sub-Criteria 2: Color and light levels adjusted for optimal display.
Sub-Criteria 3: Files are saved with the proper naming convention.
Criteria: Captions
Sub-Criteria 1: The caption clearly explains who is in the photo and what is happening.
Sub-Criteria 2: If there are three people or fewer in the photo everyone is identified with their name – spelled correctly – and grade included in the caption.
General Audio Assignment
Criteria: Pre-production
Sub-Criteria 1: Show notes contain relevant links, allowing the host to research show topics and be prepared.
Sub-Criteria 2: Interview questions are prepared in advance of the show and include some background about the interview subject
Criteria: Hosting/Interviewing/Recording
Sub-Criteria 1: Hosts introduce themselves and any guests
Sub-Criteria 2: If cross-talk occurs the hosts try to stop is quickly and get the show back on track
Sub-Criteria 3: Hosts do a verbal outro that provides credit for producers and attribution for any music edited into the episode
Sub-Criteria 4: Hosts keep the episode professional in tone and/or school appropriate
Criteria: Post-production
Sub-Criteria 1: Sound levels are consistent for all speakers throughout the entire episode
Sub-Criteria 2: When uploaded to Spotify, the episode description provides the reader with a clear summary of the episode
Sub-Criteria 3: Excessive silences, tangents or other distracting moments from the recording have been edited out of the final episode
Sub-Criteria 4: If music is edited into the podcast it is attributed either verbally in the intro/outro or in the show notes added to Spotify.
General Video Assignment
Criteria: Pre-production
Sub-Criteria 1: A shot list exists, noting what shots the videographer should try and obtain for b-roll used throughout the video
Sub-Criteria 2: If reporter narration is used a script exists
Criteria: B-roll, interview and voiceover shots
Sub-Criteria 1: Shots are framed using the rule of thirds
Sub-Criteria 2: B-roll shots show people, animals or things in motion
Sub-Criteria 3: Shots are taken from a variety of distances, angles and videographer positions
Sub-Criteria 4: Shots contain faces (subjects are not shot from behind)
Criteria: Post-production
Sub-Criteria 1: Cuts on interview shots are hidden with b-roll to avoid a jump in the subject’s position on screen
Sub-Criteria 2: All interview subjects are identified with a lower third graphic that contains their name, spelled correctly, and grade or job title
Sub-Criteria 3: Excessive down time/silence/etc. is edited out of the final video.
Sub-Criteria 4: If music is edited into the video it is attributed with a text overlay somewhere in the video, or in the show notes added to YouTube.