Creating a rubric

A rubric is a scoring tool you can use to evaluate graded work. When you create a rubric, you divide the assigned work into parts. You can provide clear descriptions of the characteristics of the work associated with each part, at varying levels of skill.

Students can use a rubric to organize their efforts to meet the requirements of the graded work. When you allow students access to rubrics before they complete their work, you provide transparency into your grading methods.

Watch a video about creating rubrics

The following narrated video provides a visual and auditory representation of some of the information included on this page. For a detailed description of what is portrayed in the video, open the video on YouTube, navigate to More actions, and select Open transcript.

Create a rubric

You can create multiple rubrics in your course. Rubrics consist of rows and columns. The rows correspond to the criteria. The columns correspond to the level of achievement that describes each criterion. New rubrics have three rows and three columns.

After you create rubrics, you can associate them with content.

Control Panel > Course Tools > Rubrics

1. On the Rubrics page, select Create Rubric. Type a title and optional description.
2. Select Add Row to add a new criterion to the bottom of the grid.
3. Select Add Column to add a new level of achievement to the grid.
4. Choose a Rubric Type from the menu:
   • No Points: Provide feedback only.
   • Points: Each level of achievement has a single point value.
   • Point Range: Each level of achievement has a range of values.
   • Percent: Each item's possible points determines the percentage.
   • Percent Range: Each level of achievement has a range of values. When you grade, you select the appropriate percentage level for a particular level of achievement. The system calculates the points earned by multiplying the weight x achievement percentage x item points.
     
5. To change a row or column's title, access a heading's menu and select Edit. Type the new title and select Save.
6. Type a point or percentage value for each row and column.
7. Type a description for the criterion and the associated level of achievement. Each cell has a 1,000-character limit.
8. Select Submit.

You can reorder rows and columns. Select the Criteria or Levels of Achievement heading, which opens a reorder panel.

After you use a rubric for grading, you can't edit it. You can copy the rubric to create a duplicate rubric you can edit.

More on grading with rubrics

Percentage-based rubrics

When you choose a percent-based rubric, select from these options:

• Show Criteria Weight check box: Show or hide criteria weights. If you add more rows when weights are hidden, weights for new criteria are distributed equally.
• Balance Weights: Use after you add a new row to keep all criteria weighted equally. If you want individual criteria weighting, type percentages for each criterion. You must select the Show Criteria Weight check box for Balance Weights to appear.

The total weight for all criteria must equal 100%. No row may have a 0% weight. At least one level of achievement must have a value of 100%.