I got some opinions about the rubric of ACES. It seems that the designer believes that the more relaxed you are, the more confident you perform. However, in one of the most serious domains in the world, an academic conference, I do not consider "confident" equals to "relaxed." How "relaxed" can you be when you stand on the stage presenting your research to other scholars? If you are "exceptionally relaxed", does it mean that you are extremely "confident"??
I even do not agree on grading some body's confidence. I will suggest grading "oral expressing skills" which can include the manners, the language used and the interactions between the speaker and the audience. All in all, I don't think "confidence" should be an item for grading. Even if it is, I don't think "relaxed" is the appropriate scale for measuring whether a speaker is "confident" or not.
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I can not say, i took a look at the ACES Rubric for oral presentations, as being very detailed one it required a sort of a detailed study for practical use having detailed options, it may be complicated for judges to find the correct corrosponding option while judging the speech itself (which can not be paused)as the Rubric is designed for the oral presentation.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem with the detailed given option is that they become too rigid in themselves leaving no option but to mark one of them, the judges who are sitting live there observing are not left with any option to express something which they observe and want to express on thier own. I think that flexibility should be there, where the judges within the framwork of rubrics could provide certain observations which can only be observed and expressed "then and there" (at the presentation),instead of having all the comments ready in detail before even the event (the speech or presentation).As it is said about the U.S constitution that its best quality is its flexibility, which is the result of being brief.
And as it was discussed in the class that all the lines between the score box from 1 to 4 are single but the one between 4 and 5 is double, does this reflect a kind of an alram to the judge, to be extra cautious before crossing the "double line"?
I think the ACES rubric is very well done. As a “pre-presentation” tool it allows speakers to focus on creating an organized presentation. It stresses the importance of narrowing a topic to an amount that can be presented in the timeframe allotted, to a general audience, saving incredibly detailed presentations for the appropriate forum. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to practice the presentation in order to be prepared for the delivery, giving the illusion of ease. I believe the use of “relaxed” refers not to irreverence for the importance of the presentation, but to a demeanor resulting from adequate preparation. As these speakers are aspiring scholars, whose future will include countless presentations, this demeanor is an important part of these presentations.
ReplyDeleteFrom the judge’s perspective I especially like the titles given to each section and the placement a comment section immediately following each content grading scale. The best description is the exceptional grade for #4 “…. Suggests new perspectives,” analogous to a book or movie which alludes to a sequel. The gradations between 1 and 5 are stated clearly so that the judge can ascertain the differences between the criteria. I especially like the overall rubric emphasis that a presentation is far more effective when it limits its scope to what can be covered in the time allotted, presented in a confident manner (not merely a paper that is read) and leaves the door open for additional exploration by the presenter and the audience.
I think here relaxed means not nervous and in control. Although this must be somewhat of an idiomatic usage. I took at quick look at "relax" in American Heritage and none of definitions fit that usage. "to reduce intensity; slacken", "To make less severe", "to lax", I don't think anyone wants an ACES presenter to slack. So that is a good point that the language seems to have a bias against non native speakers since it is not easily understandable from a dictionary definition of relax.
ReplyDeleteI would worry about giving any presenter a low score of "1" or "2" in this category. It might really discourage someone to the point that he/she will remember the negative comments and be even more nervous or "ill-at-ease" in future presentations.
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