Using Rubrics

Overview

Rubrics are a great way to communicate with students how they will be assessed as well as ensure more consistent grading. Research has shown that providing students (even Graduate students) with clear expectations for an assignment helps students understand the goals and what the instructor is looking for. Rubrics allow the instructor to define assignment criteria so students know how they will be assessed on an assignment. 

For example

If an instructor wants students to participate in the online discussion board, they could create a rubric that uses the criteria: quality, quantity, replies to peers, and contribution. By setting forth the blueprint, students will know what is expected of them and the instructor can assess students on the desired criteria to ensure students are completing what is expected.

 

Building Rubrics

This video will review how to build a rubric into an assignment and a discussion assignment.

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TLOS Building Rubrics video

 

Adding a Rubric to an Assignment

Image of adding rubric to an assignment

1. In your course navigation select Assignments 
2. Click on the name of the assignment you want to add a rubric to 
3. Select the +Rubric button at the bottom of the page
4. The template will open and you can build a rubric or find an existing rubric.

 

Adding a Rubric to a Discussion

Image of adding a rubric to a discussion

1. From your course navigation, select the Discussion tool & click on the name of the discussion you want to add a rubric to.
2. Select the management button (3 dot icon).
3. Select Add Rubric from the dropdown.

 

Adding an Existing Rubric

Rubrics can be used across courses. This video will review how to add a rubric to an assignment or discussion using the Find a Rubric feature.

Play media comment.

Video on pulling rubrics from your rubrics tool into an assignment

 

Managing Rubrics

You can access your main Rubrics page to manage existing rubrics or create more rubrics. 

To access rubrics, go to your course.

Image of rubrics tool

1. Click on the Rubrics tool to pull up your course rubrics.
2. Click on Add Rubric if you wish to create a new rubric that can later be attached to an assignment or click on the title of an existing rubric to edit it.

Note: Rubrics cannot be edited once they are attached to more than 1 assignment.

When you delete a rubric, Canvas will remove the rubric from all associated assignments in the course and remove any existing scores and assessments given using the rubric. 

 

Grading with Rubrics

Grading using rubrics is done in Speedgrader which can be accessed by clicking the name of the assignment then clicking Speedgrader OR you can go to your gradebook and click the assignment title and then selecting Speedgrader. 

When you build your rubric from the assignment or discussion page (as opposed to the outcomes tool), you can select how you want to use the rubric for grading.

 

For instance, when you select Use this rubric for grading, you grade by clicking on the rating box point value you want.

Image of grading using a rubric

 

1. Click on the box with the corresponding point value you wish to give.
2. The point value will generate in this box
3. You can also click here to type in comments

 

If you choose,  I'll freeform comments, you enter the comments in the ratings box for each criterion then enter the point value for each criterion.

Image of grading using a rubric

 

1. You will be given a box to type in comments for each criterion
2. Next, type in the point value.

 

Best Practices

• Use rubrics when you have TA's to help ensure consistency.
• Add a rubric to a Turnitin (plagiarism checker)  writing assignment.
• Always use rubrics for major projects, papers, presentations, and writings.
• Use rubrics for discussion board assignments to keep students focused.
• Rubrics make grading in Speedgrader easier and faster.
• Use the freeform comments option if you want to enter tailored feedback for each criterion.

 

Additional Resources

• Official Guide: Canvas Rubrics Links to an external site.
• Official Video Guide: Rubrics Overview Links to an external site.
• VT4help Turnitin Guide
• Canvas Guide: Grading using rubrics Links to an external site.

 

References

Beckett, G., Amaro-Jiménez, C., and Beckett, K. (2010). Students’ use of asynchronous discussions for academic discourse socialization, Distance Education, 31:3, 315-33.