Rubrics describe performance (good performance and bad performance). They often take the form of a scale or set of scales used to assess a complex performance but also used to improve performance by the student.
There is no single right way to go about developing a rubric, the following set of rules will help provide some direction.
- Start by writing a few sentences that define the importance of the topic of the rubric.
- Why should learners perform this activity
- Make a list of the major “elements” of the activity or topic.
- An element is essentially an important component or criterion of the overall task or activity.
- You should create elements for every aspect of the activity that you want to assess.
- Your elements should be unidimensional – meaning that they should be single items that can’t be reduced to a set of other items.
- You should have somewhere between 3 and 7 elements.. If you need more, create another rubric.
- For each element perform the following steps:
- Define the element
- What activities define the element?
- What is it you wish to see in the student’s performance relative to that element?
- Define the rating scale for each element
- You should not necessarily use the same rating scale for all elements.
- Make sure that the scale is descriptive of the element in question, for example inadequate, adequate, exceptional
- Define the meaning of each scale item
- Each must be defined in action or behavior-oriented terms.
- Review and Revise
- Once your rubric is drafted, review it carefully. Consider seeking feedback from colleagues or piloting it with a small group of students.
- Make revisions as necessary to ensure clarity, fairness, and alignment with your learning goals.
- Implement and Reflect
- After finalizing your rubric, implement it in your classroom. Use it to assess student work and gather feedback on its effectiveness.
- Reflect on the process and be open to making further adjustments to improve its utility and accuracy.
- Define the element
- All aspects of a rubric should be focused on providing useful feedback to students that will help them improve their performance
By following this framework, you can create rubrics that are comprehensive, clear, and aligned with your educational objectives. A well-constructed rubric not only aids in fair grading but also supports students in understanding expectations and achieving their best.