Suggested Rubric for Teaching Demonstrations

This rubric is provided as a guide for Trainers evaluating potential new instructors during the teaching demonstration (Good lessons to use for demo). Deciding whether a particular trainee passes or is asked to repeat the demonstration is the sole discretion of the Trainer. As such, deviation from this rubric is encouraged as needed to accurately assess the trainee’s preparation and instructional skills.

In general, the majority of people pass their demonstrations. When a trainee is asked to redo a demo, it is usually a matter of correction – an error to embrace and to learn from – not rejection. Trainees who have three or more marks in the “Content Opportunities for Growth” or “Delivery Opportunities for Growth” columns below should probably be asked to try again. Even one mark in the “Content Opportunities for Growth” or “Delivery Opportunities for Growth” column can be considered justification for asking a trainee to redo their demonstration if the problem is significant. As always, Trainers should use their own judgement when applying this rubric in individual cases.

Positive Content	Content Opportunities for Growth
Uses Carpentries curriculum with only minor deviations	Deviates significantly or does not use Carpentries curriculum
Places content in context and explains relevance/utility to learners	Jumps into the content without context
Teaches content correctly	Makes factual errors in content and does not correct

Positive Delivery	Delivery Opportunities for Growth
Manually types out all their code	Copies and pastes code from the lesson materials into their programming environment
Mirrors the learner’s environment (e.g. default terminal setup, simplified prompt)	Uses shortcuts or tools that are unfamiliar/unavailable to learners
Uses appropriately sized fonts and windows	Font or windows are too small
Explains all typing	Types commands or troubleshoots errors without explaining
Uses mistakes/typos as opportunities for learning	Ignores or dismisses mistakes/typos that they make
Uses notes on paper/tablet	Displays lesson materials/notes on their screen
-	Notifications show up on their screen
-	Uses significant amounts of dismissive language (e.g. “just”, “easy”)
Speaks and types at an appropriate (slow enough) pace	Speaks or types very quickly
Speaks clearly	-
Appears focused and attentive to learners	Appears significantly distracted by content or process of consulting notes

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Trainers can also copy the form below to take notes during the teaching demonstration.

# Teaching Demonstration Notes

**Trainee**:
**Date**:

## Content

**Sticks to curriculum**:
**Context**:
**Content Knowledge**:

## Delivery

**Manual typing**:
**Mirror learner's environment**:
**Font & window size**:
**Explanation of typing**:
**Embraces & uses mistakes**:
**Use of notes on paper/tablet**:
**Distraction-free screen**:
**Wording**:
**Pacing**:
**Clarity**:
**Demeanor & focus**: