Assessing Learning with Rubrics

Rubrics are a tool for scoring assessment in a consistent manner based on criteria that demonstrates varying degrees of understanding or mastery.  Northern Illinois University describes a rubric as “an explicit set of criteria used for assessing a particular type of work or performance and provides more details than a single grade or mark” (2012). 

Rubrics may be used as a tool to make grading more efficient, improve consistency, limit grader or instructor bias, and provide more explicit feedback to students.

Expand All | Collapse All

• RESEARCH

  Examine selected research on assessing learning with rubrics:

  Ferrari, C. (2021). Rubrics & Assessment of Student Use of Technology (Google Slides). https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1b9jq8XPKU2doz6E96dlzVo9UNtsY5HRKYA78Hl0xWmU/edit#slide=id.p6 (Google Slide)

  UNSW Sydney. Using Assessment Rubrics. https://www.teaching.unsw.edu.au/assessment-rubrics(opens in new window) 

  Hanfu Mi, Jane Miller, Alison Black, & Cynthia Lassonde. (2010). Through Rubrics and Scaffolded Instruction: A Programmatic Self-Study of Writing Expectations. Brock Education, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.26522/brocked.v18i2.90(opens in new window)

  Malini Y Reddy. (2007). Rubrics and the enhancement of student learning. Educate, 7(1), 3–17. https://www.educatejournal.org/index.php/educate/article/view/117(opens in new window)

• APPLICATION

  Ready to address assessing learning with rubrics in your teaching? Here are some ideas and strategies to get you started:

  • Determine the learning outcomes of an assessment, performance, or product that you wish to assess.
  • Create a matrix of outcome rows and performance level columns, filling the cells with the criteria that match each intersection of outcome and performance level.
  • It can be easier if you first consider assessments that you have already designed, refined, and plan to use again.
  • When using a rubric, it is helpful to support your students in understanding the rubric and how they could use it themselves.
  • Consider involving students in the creation of rubrics to make them more involved in the assessment and evaluation process.