HAPP, or Harmonized Appraisal, supports grading and feedback for semi-structured assignments such as essays, reports and presentations. It helps you grade and give feedback in one process. HAPP is especially useful when you assess larger groups and want to provide consistent, high-information feedback. For detailed guidance on when and how to use HAPP, please consult the dedicated HAPP page: [link: HAPP page from TestEUR still need to be created]
- Functions
- Teacher feedback
- Access
- In Canvas
- Difficulty of use
- Needs guidance
Examples of use in your education
Use HAPP for assignments that you would otherwise assess with an analytical rubric, especially when students need feedback that explains both the evaluation and the next step for improvement.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Essays and reports - Assess argumentation, use of evidence, structure and writing, while explaining both strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Case analyses and projects - Evaluate how students diagnose a problem, apply course concepts, substantiate their reasoning and develop recommendations.
Presentations and pitches - Assess the quality of the content, structure, supporting evidence, delivery and response to questions.
Role-plays and simulations - Evaluate observable behaviours such as listening, questioning, decision-making, collaboration and professional conduct.
Tip 1
Break your rubric criteria into specific, observable facets that help you and other assessors recognise meaningful differences in student performance.
Tip 2
Write feedback that explains what standard the student was working towards, why the work received a particular evaluation and what the student can improve in future work. In other words, include feed up, feedback and feedforward.
Use HAPP when several lecturers, tutors or teaching assistants assess the same assignment and students should be evaluated according to a shared interpretation of the criteria.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Parallel tutorial groups - Give assessors the same detailed appraisal form so that students in different groups are evaluated using comparable standards.
Teaching-assistant teams - Provide specific prompts about what to look for, helping less experienced assessors apply the criteria more confidently.
Assessor calibration - Let assessors evaluate sample submissions and compare their selections, grades and feedback before grading begins.
Consistent but flexible judgement - Establish a common starting point for assessors, while allowing them to adjust the grade or feedback when a student’s work does not fit the prepared options.
Tip 1
Calibrate using authentic examples, including at least one submission close to the boundary between two performance levels.
Tip 2
Use calibration to refine and finalise the grading form before grading begins. Add or clarify appraisal options and feedback comments when the sample submissions reveal missing or ambiguous cases.
Use HAPP when learning outcomes or competences are developed across multiple assignments or courses and you want individual assessments to contribute to a clearer picture of student development.
You can apply this tool in your teaching in several concrete ways:
Shared competences - Connect appraisal facets to programme learning outcomes or competences that are assessed in different courses or contexts.
Feedback by outcome - Organise feedback around specific topics, learning outcomes or competences, so students can see what they have mastered and where further development is needed.
Course alignment - Help course teams use compatible criteria and terminology when assessing related learning outcomes, while keeping assignment-specific expectations.
Development over time - Use feedback from multiple assessment moments to help students recognise recurring strengths and development needs.
Tip 1
Agree on the meaning of shared learning outcomes or competences before translating them into course-specific appraisal facets.
Tip 2
Keep the appraisal specific to each assignment, but connect relevant facets to shared outcomes or competences so that alignment does not result in overly generic assessment.
Resources
Getting started
- You can also find the HAPP website here.
- You can try out HAPP through the tutorial environment here.
Support
In case of educational questions, please contact your learning innovator or assessment support contact from your faculty.
In case of technical difficulty, please consult the HAPP website or local Canvas / HAPP support channel first. Because HAPP is used for grading and feedback, it is recommended to align its use with the course assessment plan before student work is assessed.
