Rubrics
What Is a Rubric?
Heidi Goodrich Andrade, a rubrics expert, defines a rubric as "a scoring tool that lists the criteria for a piece of work or 'what counts.' " For example, a rubric for an essay might tell students that their work will be judged on purpose, organization, details, voice, and mechanics. A rubric has three parts:
- Performance criteria
- Rating scale
- Indicators of quality
Why Should I Use a Rubric?
- Defines in writing what is expected and what will be assessed
- Specifies evaluation criteria
- Sets expectations for quality
- Makes grading easy, transparent, and fair
- Especially useful on activities where grading can be more subjective (e.g., essay, discussion board, group project, etc.)
How Do I Make a Rubric?
Performance Criteria
In the first column, list the criteria that will be used in assessing performance in the first column (usually 3-5 performance criteria for each learning activity). Criteria should be related to the learning outcome(s) that you are assessing. Get started by answering:
- What are the desired learning outcomes of the activity?
- Which elements of the assignment are essential for the assignment to be complete?
Rating Scale
In the first row, develop a rating scale. Scale can be descriptive or numerical, with the highest quality on the left:
- Descriptors (In Progress, Basic, Proficient, Advanced)
- Numbers (1, 2, 3, 4)
Indicators of Quality
In the remaining parts of the table, write a description of the quality indicators for each criterion rating. Tips:
- Make certain there is continuity in the difference between the criteria. The difference between a 2 and a 3 performance should not be more than the difference between a 3 and a 4 performance.
- Edit the indicators to ensure that the levels reflect variance in quality and not a shift in importance of the criteria.
Sources:
- PDF guide from The University of Texas at Austin on Building a Rubric Links to an external site.
- Rubric Tool from Utah Education Network Links to an external site.
- Sample Rubrics for Assessment from Convention on Biological Diversity Links to an external site.
- Rubrics for Assessment from Northern Illinois University Links to an external site.