Rubrics

In education jargon, the word rubric means “an assessment tool for communicating expectations of quality”. Rubric actually means “a heading written or printed in red” (see main entry for rubric). Source: Wkipedia.

Rubrics are supposed to support student self-reflection and self-assessment as well as communication between student and teacher. In this new sense, a rubric is a set of criteria and standards typically linked to learning objectives, and used to assess product. In Norway neither the process nor the productivity is assessed, only the end-product or performance. The goal is to use the rubric as a basis for self-evaluation, reflection, and peer review. It is aimed at accurate and fair assessment, fostering understanding, and indicating a way to proceed with subsequent learning/teaching. This integration of performance and feedback is called ongoing assessment or formative assessment.

The University of Wisconsin, Stout has organized a nice collection of rubrics for assessing digital projects. In the collection, you will find rubrics for assessing student blogging, student wikis, online discussions, Twitter used for instructional assignments, and video projects. Beyond the rubrics for digital projects, there are rubrics for activities that aren’t necessarily digital in nature. For example, you can find rubrics for writing, research, and oral presentations. (free technology for teachers)