2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

A large body of research shows that deliberate practice is essential to developing expertise in any skill. The essential elements of deliberate practice are: (1) motivation, (2) intentional plan of practice, (3) repetition, and (4) timely feedback. We assign homework to provide students with repetitive, intentionally designed practice opportunities, but ensuring that students receive timely, effective feedback is resource-intensive and does not scale well to large classes. In addition, our experience with traditional homework grading suggests that many students do not even view detailed feedback when it is provided. One solution to both problems is for students to grade their own homework assignments.

Direct evidence of effectiveness of student-grading for learning is scant, but suggests that self-grading is more effective than peer-grading for achieving learning objectives [1]. A search of the engineering literature on student-graded assignments turned up a handful of studies [13-17]. The most common concerns are (1) scalability and instructor workload, (2) accuracy and reliability of student scores, (3) student perception and experience, and (4) academic integrity.

We present a methodology for student-graded homework which addresses these 4 concerns, and data demonstrating its effectiveness. Our specific contributions are (1) a scalable workflow using our Learning Management System API (Application Programming Interface), (2) a generic, flexible rubric which maps to ABET student outcomes, and (3) a straightforward approach to encourage academic integrity. We have collected data from three mechanical engineering courses for juniors and seniors: Machine Design, System Dynamics & Controls, and Heat Transfer. Our results indicate that students’ self-assessments are accurate and reliable, with an average bias < 6% and RMS error < 15%. Qualitative data from surveys and reflective journals suggest that students find the process intuitive and useful, and that self-grading prompts deeper reflection on their work.