Probability Game Assessment

In 8th grade math classes with one of my cooperating teachers, at the end of a probability unit, a final project was assigned that required students and their partner to create a board game based on probability. The students were given approximately 3 class periods to work on the project, as well as strong suggestion to work on it evenings and/or over the weekend (it had to be done by the end of the third class because parent-teacher conferences were the next day and the games were going to be hung around the room). In my opinion, the teacher loosely explained her instructions and expectations, and it wasn't until AFTER the projects were graded that they saw the grading rubric. Coincidently, there were at least 1/4 - 1/3 of students from each class that had missing or incomplete grades shown for this assignment. The most common reason cited for the missing/incomplete work was lack of student understanding of project expectations.

From this lesson, I learned it is crucial to clearly explain project expectations. I also realized it isn't fair to students to give grades without detailing how grades are given. I think the project would have been more successful with improved student outcomes if the teacher would have provided an outline of her grading rubric prior to the lesson.