A rubric is a tool used to evaluate a students performance. Additionally, a rubric is a tool used to explain the goals and objectives of assignments.
David,
Right on! And, rubrics benefit both the instructors and the students.
Nice job.
I believe an important role of a rubric is to establish consistency with grading though a particular course or school. I believe they should be clear and consistent, but I don't believe they should be so structured that the grading becomes robotic and completely eliminates teacher autonomy and/or subjectivity.
The role is tool for assessment. It assesses the student and lesson at the same time. It provides students the requirements of the lesson.
Lori Zander
The role of the rubric will help the instructor and the student. It assists the student with knowing what to expect and how they will be graded on the assignment or discussion. For the instructor is helps create and make the evaluation process more simple and transparent.
Pamela Asbury
Gary,
Excellent point. Consistency is very important. A well-developed rubric should have the inter-rater reliability and provide for that consistency. Thanks!
Lori,
Good point that it assesses the student and the lesson at the same time. A rubrics, as you noted, is must more than just an assignment assessment tool. Thanks!
Pamela ,
Yes, rubrics help everyone involved - instructors and students. I like the terms you use about making the process more simple and transparent. No surprises! ;-] Thanks!
It's a balancing tool....and it's used to provide the student with a more objective picture of how they've performed. Used with subjective assessments, a rubric helps to focus the student on areas that are strong, as well as areas that need their attention.
Robert,
Great term to describe rubrics - balancing tool. The instructors and the students benefit and we do see a more "clear picture" of their learning. Thanks!
I think the role of the rubric is to establish a guideline as to what is required per the assessment at hand, to give a universal grading scale for all students in the course.
The rubric promotes an objective process for assessing an assignment and help ensure that assignments are assessed consistently among students.
Aaron,
Yes, the students benefit from the rubrics, but the instructors do as well. Rubrics help us be more objective in grading and as we write the criteria, it makes us think carefully about the assignments/expectations we set. Thanks!
ron ,
And, they help the students understand the expectations more clearly and understand how they will be assessed. Thanks!
Rubrics are most effectively used when they clearly outline the preferred method of response, or demonstration of course understanding, and also allow the student to know how to meet those needs, or demonstrate that understanding consistently.
It also gives the student specific examples of ideal outcomes so that desired conduct can be reinforced.
We use rubrics for every online assignment, and while student understanding is sometimes shaky at first, very often, a student will ask "How come I only got 80 points?" The use of rubrics allows the instructor to point to a set of OBJECTIVE goals to answer that question.
Eric ,
Right on. We have to let the students know what is expected and how they will be graded. This should help alleviate questions on grades. Thanks!
I think that the role of a rubric in any classroom setting is to assess whether or not learning is taking place. A well constructed rubric is a tool which contains a set of criteria that are connected to specific learning outcomes or objectives of an assignment, project, or course. Rubrics can be set up to be used formatively or summatively.
An instructor may also use a rubric to clearly communication course, assignment, or project expectations to the students.
“Rubrics should provide specific criteria, a range of performances, and a focus on objectives.†Creating Rubrics for Communication Assessment.
Sandra S.
Sandra,
I am thrilled you noted that the rubrics can be used for formative or summative assessment. Many times instructors only think about summative assessment. Good point. Thanks!
Rubrics are a good tool to use to make sure you are grading each student's work consistently. It is a way to help ensure you, as the instructor, are being fair to each of your students and are truly analyzing their work and not just handing out grades.
Kim C
Kimberly,
You noted several ways the rubric helps the instructor, but remember it helps the students too! ;-) Love it!
