Grading

The lab evaluation is based on preset rubrics. Meeting the basic pedagogical goals is evaluated as 70-80% grade point, exceeding those basic goals means that you can reach 80-100% grade point. In order to reach the exceeding criteria, the basic goals must be met first.

Notebook Report Rubric

Each report is evaluated based on the following rubric and feed-back is given for each criterion:

  1. Experiment includes title, group member’s full names, properly formatted date/time
  2. Legible, organized, and extensive presentation of data, procedural steps are included
  3. Paraphrased experimental goals, and predictions are pasted properly into the lab notebook and completed at home (not in the lab)
  4. Schematic diagram(s) with experimental set-up and parameters, diagrams include all details and are properly connected
  5. Table with all measurements, includes units for all entries and parameters from diagram(s), data has the correct magnitude and makes sense, includes sufficient amount of data to support results
  6. Graph of results, axes labeled, units, proper scales, relevant data is graphed with sufficient data points
  7. Uncertainty is added and propagated to the final measurement
  8. Summary paragraph with full sentences and final quantitative result is selected and added with correct significant figures.
  9. Reflection paragraph with several sentences on how the results compare to other groups in the class, was the goal of the experiment achieved? How can the experiment be improved? What did you learn?
  10. Quality of results; was the experiment carried out correctly, do the results make sense, is the uncertainty reasonably low

Lab Notebook Rubric

The evaluation of the lab notebook is based on the following criteria:

  1. lab notebook has name on cover, email address / contact information on first page
  2. updated Table of Contents on page 1 with full experiment name, properly formatted date, and page number
  3. All pages are numbered, no blank pages (continuous record), no pencil marks, only pen
  4. All predictions are included and were solved carefully, ordered, organized and taped properly
  5. Organized (clear sections), underlined parts, legible text, all cross-outs are legible
  6. Complete experimental details (text included other than summary / reflections) and full sentences

References

Stanley, Jacob T., and H. J. Lewandowski. 2017. “Recommendations for the Use of Notebooks in Upper-Division Physics Lab Courses.” American Journal of Physics 86 (1): 45–53. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.5001933.