Rubrics are powerful tools for making assessment clear, consistent, and fair. A well-designed rubric not only guides assessors in applying standards consistently, it also helps students understand exactly what is expected of them and how they can succeed.
In this lesson, we’ll look at how to design rubrics with clarity and simplicity. This means:
- Using straightforward language that students can easily understand.
- Including clear criteria that capture the essential aspects of performance.
- Providing a scale to measure the criteria (for example, from “emerging” to “exemplary”).
- Writing performance descriptors for each point on the scale so that both students and assessors can distinguish levels of achievement.
Through worked examples, you’ll see how rubrics can transform assessment into a transparent and constructive process that supports both learning and teaching.
