Assessment Series: Assessment Series: RubricsRubrics

Molly Herman Baker, Ph.D.Molly Herman Baker, Ph.D.Director, Teaching/Learning CenterDirector, Teaching/Learning Center

Black Hawk CollegeBlack Hawk College

Assessment in a NutshellAssessment in a Nutshell

Auditive AssessmentsAuditive Assessments: measures of student : measures of student learning to issue a grade (e.g., tests, learning to issue a grade (e.g., tests, homework assignments)homework assignments)

Educative AssessmentsEducative Assessments: feedback methods : feedback methods to help students monitor their progress and to help students monitor their progress and eval. application of lng to novel, authentic eval. application of lng to novel, authentic situations situations Ongoing personal feedback during practiceOngoing personal feedback during practice Forward-looking assessments (apply learning or Forward-looking assessments (apply learning or

learned process to novel problems)learned process to novel problems) Feedback on original products based on criteriaFeedback on original products based on criteria

What is a rubric?What is a rubric? A document that identifies achievement criteria & A document that identifies achievement criteria &

standards for a class assignmentstandards for a class assignment Classroom rubrics function as a(n):Classroom rubrics function as a(n):

Communication tool re instructor expectations Communication tool re instructor expectations (What to do? What to learn to be able to do well?)(What to do? What to learn to be able to do well?)

Tool for self-assessment (mediocre vs high quality Tool for self-assessment (mediocre vs high quality work; what is good enough for an A, B, C?)work; what is good enough for an A, B, C?)

Scoring guide for individual student performance Scoring guide for individual student performance (grade)(grade)

Effective method to provide feedback to students Effective method to provide feedback to students from instructor, peer, expert (Where can I improve from instructor, peer, expert (Where can I improve to do better next time? Gaps?)to do better next time? Gaps?)

Five Good Reasons to Use OneFive Good Reasons to Use One

Rubrics raise the quality of work Rubrics raise the quality of work students produce, in part because students produce, in part because they are so specific.they are so specific.

Rubrics make grading more consistent Rubrics make grading more consistent and equitable, feedback more specific.and equitable, feedback more specific.

Rubrics save teachers time.Rubrics save teachers time. Rubrics save classroom time.Rubrics save classroom time. Rubrics save students time.Rubrics save students time.

Assignment Rubric DevAssignment Rubric Dev

What are the obj’s for the assignment?What are the obj’s for the assignment? What key criteria will count in your What key criteria will count in your

evaluation of the assignment?evaluation of the assignment? Construct a 2-5 point scale for each Construct a 2-5 point scale for each

criteria (standards), writing a criteria (standards), writing a statement for each of these poor to statement for each of these poor to good versions of the criteria.good versions of the criteria.

Test for understanding with students Test for understanding with students or peersor peers

What is a rubric?What is a rubric?

A document that identifies achievement A document that identifies achievement criteria and standards for a full course or criteria and standards for a full course or academic program academic program

Program rubrics:Program rubrics: Method for recording a range of learning levels Method for recording a range of learning levels

tied to particular quality standardstied to particular quality standards Communication tool for describing curricular Communication tool for describing curricular

sequencing/progress over timesequencing/progress over time Planning tool for curricular alignmentPlanning tool for curricular alignment Tool for identifying gaps and potential areas of Tool for identifying gaps and potential areas of

shared responsibility with other departmentsshared responsibility with other departments

Why use a program rubric?Why use a program rubric? Assess the general level of Assess the general level of

learning provided by a learning provided by a program (e.g., 2-year program (e.g., 2-year degree in nursing, general degree in nursing, general education sequence). education sequence).

Provide program faculty Provide program faculty with information about with information about where improvement is where improvement is needed in the program’s needed in the program’s curriculumcurriculum

Why use a program rubric?Why use a program rubric? Much learning does not involve Much learning does not involve

“right answers,” but applying it “right answers,” but applying it to “authentic” problemsto “authentic” problems

Tests may or may not be the Tests may or may not be the best way to measure success in best way to measure success in achieving a particular standardachieving a particular standard

Much learning is about process Much learning is about process rather than what knowledge rather than what knowledge one knows at a particular point one knows at a particular point in time.in time.

Do we want to document Do we want to document progress over time, providing progress over time, providing feedback along the way?feedback along the way?

Two Types of RubricsTwo Types of Rubrics

HolisticHolistic rubrics assess rubrics assess student work or curricular student work or curricular accomplishments as a accomplishments as a whole. whole.

AnalyticAnalytic rubrics identify rubrics identify and assess components of and assess components of a finished product or a finished product or program curriculum. program curriculum.

Holistic Rubric ExampleHolistic Rubric ExampleLevel of Level of

PerformancePerformanceDescriptionDescription ValueValue

AdvancedAdvanced Project runs properly. Project runs properly. 44

ProficientProficient Project runs with Project runs with minor errors. minor errors.

33

BasicBasic Many technical Many technical problems with running problems with running programprogram

22

Below BasicBelow Basic Project does not run.Project does not run. 11

Student Name:Student Name: Score =Score =

Analytic Rubric Example: Analytic Rubric Example: PresentationsPresentations

44

ExemplaryExemplary33

SatisfactorySatisfactory22

ImproveImprove11

PoorPoor

PreparePreparedd

Team is Team is completely completely prepared;haprepared;has obviously s obviously practiced. practiced.

Prepared but Prepared but might have might have needed more needed more practice.practice.

Somewhat Somewhat prepared, but prepared, but it is clear it is clear practice was practice was minimal. minimal.

Team Team does not does not seem seem prepared prepared to to present. present.

Speaks

Clearly Speaks clearly and distinctly and mispronounces no words.

Speaks clearly and distinctly and mispronounces some words.

Speaks somewhat clearly and distinctly and mispronounces some words.

Often mumbles or cannot be understood.

Options for ArtifactsOptions for Artifacts Performance over time (e.g., projects, Performance over time (e.g., projects,

collection of essays, diverse artifacts)collection of essays, diverse artifacts) Culminating performance/exhibition (e.g., Culminating performance/exhibition (e.g.,

play, athletic competition, poetry reading, play, athletic competition, poetry reading, science fair)science fair)

Products/portfoliosProducts/portfolios Process (e.g., logs, drafts of papers, math Process (e.g., logs, drafts of papers, math

problems showing all work) shows learning & problems showing all work) shows learning & progressprogress

Best works showcase accomplishments (e.g., Best works showcase accomplishments (e.g., collection of writings, art work, critical collection of writings, art work, critical analyses of current events, lesson plans and analyses of current events, lesson plans and materials, snapshots, videoclips, performance materials, snapshots, videoclips, performance reviews by peers/boss, etc.)reviews by peers/boss, etc.)

Use Rubrics to Evaluate…Use Rubrics to Evaluate…

AssignmentsAssignments DebatesDebates

Feedback on Feedback on practicepractice

EssaysEssays

Self evaluationSelf evaluation Lab notesLab notes

Peer evaluationPeer evaluation PresentationsPresentations

Role playsRole plays JournalsJournals

Pre and post Pre and post teststests

Topic outlinesTopic outlines

SimulationSimulation Research papersResearch papers

Case studiesCase studies Literature Literature reviewsreviews

PortfoliosPortfolios Where else??Where else??

Steps to Develop Program-Steps to Develop Program-level Rubricslevel Rubrics

1.1. Develop programmatic goals (e.g., Develop programmatic goals (e.g., general education strands)general education strands)

2.2. Articulate indicators of successful Articulate indicators of successful completion of those goals (e.g., completion of those goals (e.g., see BHC core curriculum see BHC core curriculum document)document)

3.3. Clearly identify the scoring criteria Clearly identify the scoring criteria (see example programmatic rubric (see example programmatic rubric rating scale & “current practice” rating scale & “current practice” descriptors)descriptors)

Steps to Develop Program-level Steps to Develop Program-level RubricsRubrics

4. Select artifacts/evidence that will be 4. Select artifacts/evidence that will be collected to document learning collected to document learning progressprogress

5. Develop a curricular alignment plan 5. Develop a curricular alignment plan and assessment timeline.and assessment timeline.

Key ResourcesKey Resources http://www.tensigma.org/rightbars/rubrics_http://www.tensigma.org/rightbars/rubrics_

rb1.html#Anchor-44867rb1.html#Anchor-44867 (good overview of rubrics & a few (good overview of rubrics & a few

examples)examples)

http://www.iccb.state.il.us/pt3/res/link.htmlhttp://www.iccb.state.il.us/pt3/res/link.html (scroll down to “Information on Rubrics” or (scroll down to “Information on Rubrics” or

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.phphttp://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php ) )

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrhttp://school.discoveryeducation.com/schrockguide/assess.html#rubricsockguide/assess.html#rubrics

http://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/rubrichttp://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/rubrics.shtmls.shtml

Let’s Try One!Let’s Try One!