Utilizing Rubrics as Assessment Tools

What is a rubric?
A rubric is a scoring and instructional tool used to assess student performance using a
task-specific range or set of criteria. To measure student performance against this pre-
determined set of criteria, a rubric contains the essential criteria for the task and levels of
performance (i.e., from poor to excellent) for each criterion. Most rubrics are designed as
a one- or two-page document formatted with a table or grid that outlines the learning
criteria for a specific lesson, assignment or project.

Rubrics can be created in a variety of forms and levels of complexity, but they all:
focus on measuring a stated objective (performance, behavior, or quality)
use a range to rate performance
contain specific performance characteristics arranged in levels indicating the degree
to which a standard has been met

Two major types of rubrics:

A holistic rubric involves one global, holistic rating with a single score for an entire
product or performance based on an overall impression. These are useful for summative
assessment where an overall performance rating is needed, for example, portfolios.
An analytical rubric divides a product or performance into essential traits that are
judged separately. Analytical rubrics are usually more useful for day-to-day classroom
use since they provide more detailed and precise feedback to the student.

Assessing student learning

Rubrics provide instructors with an effective means of learning-centered feedback and
evaluation of student work. As instructional tools, rubrics enable students to gauge the
strengths and weaknesses of their work and learning. As assessment tools, rubrics enable
faculty to provide detailed and informative evaluations of students work.

Advantages of using rubrics:

They allow assessment to be more objective and consistent.
They clarify the instructors criteria in specific terms.
They clearly show students how their work will be evaluated and what is expected.
They promote awareness of the criteria to use when students assess peer performance.
They provide benchmarks against which to measure progress.
They reduce the amount of time teachers spend evaluating student work by allowing
them to simply circle an item in the rubric.
They increase students' sense of responsibility for their own work.

Rubrics are powerful tools for both teaching and assessment. They can improve student
performance, as well as monitor it, by making teachers' expectations clear and showing
students how to meet those expectations. Students become increasingly able to spot and
solve problems in their own and others work, resulting in improvement in its quality.
Cited from: http://www.thinkinggear.com/tools/rubrics_about.cfm
Steps for creating a rubric
1. Define your assignment or project
This is the task you are asking your students to perform.

2. Decide on a scale of performance

These can be a level for each grade (A-F) or three levels (outstanding, acceptable, not
acceptable; Great job, Okay, What happened?). These are listed at the top of the grid.

3. Identify the criteria of the task

These are the observable and measurable characteristics of the task. They are listed in the
left-hand column. They can be weighted to convey the relative importance of each.

4. Describe the performance of each criterion

These descriptors indicate what performance looks like at each level. They offer specific
feedback. Use samples of student work to help you determine quality work.

Suggestions for use:

Hand out the rubric with the assignment. Return the rubric with the performance
descriptors circled.
Have students develop their own rubrics for a project.
Have students use the rubric for self-assessment or peer assessment.

See rubric template.

Free online rubric builders (just log in)

iRubric: http://rcampus.com
RubiStar: http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
RubricBuilder: http://www.thinkinggear.com/tools/rubrics.cfm

Websites with basic rubric information:

http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox
http://www.instruction.greenriver.edu/facultyteachingresources/Rubric Design/Rubric
Homepage.htm
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/rubrics/weblessons.htm

Subject-specific rubric examples:

http://www.calstate.edu/AcadAff/SLOA/links/rubrics.shtml
Writing http://www.rio.maricopa.edu/distance_learning/writing_rubric.shtml