Rubrics
Rubrics are scoring tools that provide specific descriptions of expected student performance. They are especially helpful when assessing activities or assignments that appear “subjective” rather than “objective.” For example, when we say that we want to assess a student’s ability to think critically, a rubric can provide the specific expectations for “critical thinking.” Rubrics help students understand the scope of an assignment, the criteria for acceptable performance, and the range of performances possible. Rubrics assist teachers in defining criteria for grading or assessment. Rubrics typically consist of a list of required elements of an assignment along with descriptions of expectations for student work on each element. Below are several links to websites that will help to define the types of rubrics, provide guidance on how to build them, and numerous examples.
WMUx Rubrics 101 Resource: WMUx has developed an excellent resource about rubrics. On this webpage you will:
- Learn about the three types of rubrics, and advantages and disadvantages of using each type
- See examples
- Find some other helpful resources about rubrics
Rubric Components and Suggestions
- Designing Grading Rubrics - This website, from the Brown University, Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, shares information about and reasons why you might want to utilize rubrics, elements of the rubric, and suggestions for creating a rubric.
- Using rubrics - From Cornell University's Center for Teaching Innovation, this website offers guidance on using rubrics as a valuable assessment and evaluation tool in educational settings, emphasizing their effectiveness in providing clear criteria for grading and feedback.
Rubric Examples
- AAC&U VALUE rubrics - Shared by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), these rubrics are considered open educational resources (OERs) and are available for use by anyone. We suggest that you might want to use them as a starting point, and edit them to fit your needs. Kansas State University provides in-depth information about these rubrics; what they are, why you might want to use them, and more.
If you would like assistance with implementing any of the AAC&U VALUE rubric, please contact the Office of Institutional Effectiveness at 269-387-3867 or @email.
- Assessing student co-curricular involvement using rubrics and focus groups (texas-air.org) - From the Texas Association for Institutional Research (Texas AIR) conference in 2018, (a presentation shared by Susan Thompson from Texas State University), this document contains insights and information related to institutional research, assessment, and data analysis in the context of higher education. There is a focus on the co-curricular transcript at Texas State University, and a rubric that was developed to evaluate the experiences students shared in the transcript.
- Free online rubric generators: iRubric and RubiStar. (Account set up/registration is required for both tools. For iRubric, choose the Personal Edition, and then set up your free account.)
- WMU Essential Studies Outcome Rubrics