Rubric Creation

"Rubrics are a critical and vital link between assessment and instruction. They operationalize quality in our minds so we can more effectively teach and lead." New Measure, Inc.

What is a rubric?

For most educators, a rubric is a printed set of scoring guidelines (criteria) for evaluating work (a performance or a product) and for giving feedback. The word "Rubric" is a noun that means a category or a class or even a title or a name. It can also be used to refer to a number of other things. Rubric is the name given to the part of a book or some manuscript such as its heading, initial letter or title that is presented in a much more decorated way then the rest of the material contained in its text. In a code of law it refers to the heading or title of a chapter or statute. Rubric is also the term that defines a short commentary that explains some broad subject. For our purposes, a rubric is an assessment or evaluation tool. Here are some questions to ask when creating a rubric: 

   #1. By what criteria will the work be judged?

   #2. What is the difference between good work and weaker work?

   #3. How can we make sure our judgments (or scores) are valid and reliable?

   #4. How can both performers and judges focus their preparation on excellence?

Remember to let your students have an active role in designing the rubric you wish to use. Their input allows them to actively participate in the objectives, the achievement of the objectives and how the achievement will be evaluated. Tina Heindel

Rubric and Assessment Websites

For post-secondary education:

For written work (essays, etc.):

For student evaluation: