Creating
Student Rubrics -- Integration Idea of the Month
For this month’s integration project, we offer
you a framework for introducing the concept of a grading rubric. Since this concept
may be applied to a variety of projects and grade levels, we have not specifically
indicated which examples to introduce, or which projects to tackle. We leave that
up to your needs and wisdom. However, we encourage you to take this open-ended
idea to your curriculum planning team, and design a unit that will begin the process
of involving students in the assessment process.
Curriculum Area: Any
Grade Level: Elementary/Middle School
Skills Developed: Decision making, collaborative learning, self assessment,
making real world connections
Student Grouping: Whole class, small groups
Time: Two class periods
Technology Used: Inspiration (optional), Word Processor
Procedure:
- Familiarize students with the concept of a rubric. Show students examples
of different kinds of rubrics used by teachers. Also show real world examples
of rubrics used by corporations and other professionals.
- Review a rubric used for a sample project and have students work in small
groups to grade the project using the rubric. Have each group explain why
they assigned a particular grade to the project. Then as a class discuss how
the project could be changed to receive a higher or lower score.
- Introduce a project that you would like them to design a rubric for and
list on the board the learning outcomes that will be emphasized in the project.
- In cooperative groups ask students to take on the role of the teacher and
decide what qualities one should look for in deciding how to grade a particular
project. Using Inspiration have students brainstorm six criteria that
could be used in grading the project. Then tell students to rank the qualities
in order of importance.
- Have groups present their top two criteria to the class. Then have a class
decide which ones are truly most relevant to the lesson and should be included
in the rubric.
- Now have groups decide what should be considered "Advanced", "Proficient",
"Needs Improvement", "Failing" performance for each criterion. As a class
you might consider changing these ratings. Assign one criterion to each cooperative
group so they can design the wording for the rubric. Students can use a table
in Word to set up their contribution to the rubric.
- As a class discuss the final rubric and have students talk about the process.
- After the rubric has been used to grade the project, discuss as a class
the following questions:
- Are there any minor changes that need to be made to the rubric to make it
work better?
- Do you have any other questions, suggestions, or concerns about the rubric?
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Last updated, May
15, 2002
