Beyond Fairness and Consistency in Grading: The Role of Rubrics inHigher Education

Abstract

This chapter will examine the role of rubrics in higher education. At its best, a rubric is a carefully wrought expression of the professional judgement of a teacher, and identifies the learning goals and aspirations of performance. We will explain and illustrate how rubrics can be used as both teaching and grading tools. We will examine how, in clarifying the learning goals, rubrics help teachers not only provide feedback, but also improve course design. We will pay specific attention to the formative role rubrics play in mediating improvement in student performance. We will explore how assessment involves qualitative judgments and suggest that a good rubric can help in monitoring fairness and consistency in grading. The key features of a quality rubric for assessing student work and their effective use will be discussed. We will consider the approaches that may limit the effectiveness of rubrics and provide ways in which teachers can create valid and reliable rubrics. Finally, we will discuss how rubrics can impact and improve teaching practice.