Teachers want their students to flourish and realize their full potential. Using a well-designed rubric is one approach to assist students in this endeavor. A rubric is a tool used to explain the levels of performance for each criterion and to outline the expectations for an assignment or activity. It can assist students with understanding what they must accomplish to achieve success in the course.  It could also help lessen subjectivity in grading practices. Students can benefit in a variety of ways when using a good rubric. 

Benefits for Students 

Sets Clear Expectations 

Clear expectations for what students must do to succeed are one of the main advantages of a well-designed rubric. Students are more likely to succeed when what is expected of them is clearly stated. According to Andrade (2005), a well-designed rubric provides clear objectives, leading to fair and consistent grades for all students. Students can better understand the requirements for each level of performance and the unique evaluation criteria established by using a rubric. Providing students with a plan of success can help them feel less anxious and stressed about their coursework. 

Improve Self-Assessment 

A well-crafted rubric can also help improve students’ work through self-evaluation and feedback (Brookhart, 2013). Before turning in their work, students can evaluate it using the rubric to find areas of improvement and make the required adjustments. This can promote the growth of students’ metacognitive abilities and result in greater comprehension and a command of the content (Brookhart, 2013). 

Reduce Subjectivity in Grading 

As stated earlier, a well-crafted rubric can also decrease subjectivity in grading. There is less possibility for ambiguity or bias when grading standards are precisely established in a rubric. This can ensure that grades are given to all students fairly and consistently, regardless of the person assigning the grade. 

Feedback for Improvement 

Students can receive feedback on their work and suggestions for improvement from a rubric. Students may identify where they previously made mistakes and identify future improvements the next time rubric is used to grade an assignment. This could motivate students to assume more of a growth mindset and to take responsibility for their own learning and development. 

Clarity in Communication 

Wiggins (2012) suggests that rubrics can help facilitate clear and effective communication between teachers and students. Students are better equipped to ask thoughtful questions and seek out more useful feedback when clear expectations and standards are applied to evaluate their work. This may facilitate a more cooperative learning atmosphere and encourage greater engagement with the course content.  

Designing Useful Rubrics 

Now that some of the benefits of rubrics for students have been covered, how can useful rubrics be designed? Here are a few, brief tips to assist with the process: 

• Align the assignment’s or task’s learning objectives with the rubric. 
• When describing each level of performance, use simple language. 
• Give examples of work that reflect the various performance levels. 
• Allow for some flexibility and creative expression within the criteria of the rubric. 
• Review and adjust it frequently, to keep it current and useful. 

A well-crafted rubric can benefit students in a variety of ways.  This can include setting clear objectives, enhancing self-evaluation, reducing subjectivity in grading, providing feedback and development, and making communication simple. Teachers can foster a more encouraging and interesting learning environment to support student success by developing effective rubrics. 

If you need help either writing or adding a rubric into D2L, we can assist with that. The SCSU Online and Distance Learning team can provide guidance and tools to get you on the right track. Reach out to us via email or through Bookings.

References:

Andrade, H. G. (2005). Teaching with rubrics: The good, the bad, and the ugly. College Teaching, 53(1), 27-31.  

Andy, B. (2021). Person checking test papers [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-checking-test-papers-6684372/

Brookhart, S. M. (2013). How to create and use rubrics for formative assessment and grading. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. 

Wiggins, G. P. (2012). Seven keys to effective feedback. Educational Leadership, 70(1), 10-16. 

Yan, K. (2016). Group of people smiling and standing near brown wooden table raising hands [Photograph]. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/group-of-people-smiling-and-standing-near-brown-wooden-table-raising-hands-8199562/

 

 

Anas Ahmed is a Graduate Assistant with 2 years of experience in Tech. He is passionate about Online Education and helping students achieve their full potential.