Instructor: Rubrics

Rubrics are an assessment tool used to evaluate activities based on a predefined set of criteria.                                    

To access the Rubrics tool, click the Course Admin link in the navigation bar (top of the screen). Click Rubrics under the Assessment header.

An analytic rubric describes levels of performance by defining criteria.

The levels of performance in an analytic rubric can communicate expectations and detailed feedback to participants. The levels allow for consistent and objective assessment.

1. In the Rubrics tool, click New Rubric.
2. Enter a Name for your rubric.
3. Click on Type: to select Analytic. Once you save your rubric, you will not be able to change the rubric type.
4. Click Scoring: to select how you want to assess the rubric. 
   • Points: Levels use text and point values (e.g., "Excellent (100 points)", "Fair (75 points)", etc). Point values are the same across criteria.
   • Custom Points: Similar to the Points scoring method, but points given for each criterion can be customized. For example, the "Content" of the assignment might be worth 10 of the available points while "Spelling and Grammar" might only be worth 5.
   • No Score: Levels are indicated by text only (e.g., "Excellent", "Fair", "Poor", etc.). No numerical values are associated with levels. 
      
5. The rubric contains 4 Levels by default. Change the names and point values of these Levels by clicking in the text boxes. To add new Levels, click on the + button to the left or the right of the existing Levels.

    

6. Click inside each text box under each Level to provide a detailed description of that Level of achievement. Leave default feedback for each Level of a Criterion in the Initial Feedback text box.
7. To remove Levels, click on the trash-can icon at the top of the Level column you want to delete.
8. The rubric contains 3 Criteria by default. You can change the names of each criterion by clicking in the text boxes. To add new Criteria, click on the + Add Criterion link at the bottom. To copy an existing Criterion, click the three dots next to its name and select Copy Row.
9. To remove Criteria, click on the three dots next to the Criterion and select Delete Row.
10. If you need to assess various aspects of an assignment separately with a different set of criteria, such as grammar usage or writing style, you can add another group of criteria. Each Criteria Group can include different descriptions and point values. To add the new group, click on the Add Criteria Group button.
11. The Overall Score section totals the scores earned on each Level for each Criterion. You do not need to change anything about the Overall Score section, but if you'd like, you can customize the names and point ranges of these levels by clicking on the text boxes. **Do not delete these levels -- the rubric will not function properly without them.
12. Click the down arrow to expand the Options menu to customize the visibility and other details of this rubric. 
    • Rubric Visibility: Choose whether students can view the rubric before they complete or submit the activity.
    • Learning Outcomes: Choose to automatically or manually map achievement to the levels in your rubric.
    • Score Visibility: Choose whether students can see their scores in the rubric
13. Click Close when you are finished with the rubric.

Holistic rubrics use one overall score to assess an assignment as a whole.

Note:  The + Add Criterion button is unavailable while creating a Holistic rubric, as it is not criteria-based. If you intend to use a set of criteria, see the instructions in section 2 on creating an Analytical rubric.   

1. Select New Rubric.
2. Enter a Name for your rubric.
3. Click Type: to select Holistic. Once you save your rubric, you will not be able to change the rubric type. 
4. Click on Scoring: to select how you'd like to assess the rubric. 
   • Percentage: Assign a percentage to the Level that students achieve in the rubric
   • No Score: Performance levels are indicated by text only (ie: "Excellent", "Fair", "Poor", etc.). Participants see no numerical value associated with performance levels.
5. To add Levels, click on the  +  button to the left or the right of the existing levels.
6. To change the name and percentage values (if using a percentage Scoring system), click inside the text boxes. Add a description of the level of achievement by clicking in the text box under each Level.
7. To remove Levels, click on the trashcan icon in the Level you want to delete.
8. Click the down arrow to expand the Options menu to customize the visibility and other details of this rubric.  
   • Rubric Visibility: Choose whether students can view the rubric before they complete or submit the activity.
   • Learning Outcomes: Choose to automatically or manually map achievement to the levels in your rubric.
   • Score Visibility: Choose whether students can see their scores in the rubric
      
9. Click Close when you are finished with the rubric.

Choose if the rubric will be visible to students, and when. 

D2L has three options for rubric visibility and the option to hide scores, both listed under Options. Click the down arrow to expand Options.

1. Rubric is visible to students: Students will be able to see the empty Rubric before submitting their work and see a link to their graded Rubric once assessments are published.
2. Rubric is hidden from students: Only instructors, TAs and Graders will see the rubric attached to a tool.
   • If the Include rubric feedback in overall feedback option is selected, students will see any feedback left on the rubric when they view their score in Grades / the tool where the rubric is attached.
3. Rubric is hidden until feedback published: Students will see a link to their graded Rubric once assessments are published.
4. Hide scores from students: If this box is checked, students will still see check marks without a numerical score in each Level and the Overall Score Level in the rubric. The published score for the entire assignment will appear in the Score field.

You will need to publish your rubric before you can associate it with course activities.

Once a rubric has been associated with an activity in your D2L course site and assessments have been made using that rubric, you can no longer make changes to it. Before publishing your rubric for use, check everything to make sure it is how you want it.

1. Click the down arrow next to the rubric you'd like to change the status for.
2. Select Set Status.
3. Select Published.

    

Edit text within a rubric, make a copy of or delete rubrics you no longer need.

There are limited changes that can be made to a rubric once it has been published and used to assess student work on an activity (e.g,. Assignments, Discussions).

Note: Structural changes (e.g., adding criteria, changing values, etc.) cannot be made with the Edit Text option. You will need to make a copy of the rubric that can then be fully edited and attach the copy to the intended activity.

To edit text within a rubric (e.g., Level names, Criteria names, Criteria descriptions, Initial Feedback fields):

1. Click the down-arrow next to the appropriate rubric and click "Edit Options".

   
2. An alert will appear at the top of the screen that reads "The rubric is locked to structural changes because it has already been used to assess learner work." Click the "Edit Text" button on the right side of this alert.
3. A pop-up window will appear asking you to confirm that you want to edit this assessed rubric. Be sure to read this note carefully to learn about how changes will be implemented. Click "Edit Text" to move forward.

    

4. Click on any text fields and make the necessary changes. Changes are saved automatically. When you are finished, click "Close". 

    

To copy a rubric:

1. Click the down arrow next to the rubric you'd like to copy and select Copy. You can then make any desired changes to the copy that is created.

   

To delete a rubric that is not associated with any activities:

1. Click the down arrow to the right of the rubric you'd like to delete and select Delete.
2. Select Delete on the confirmation window that opens.
3. If you can't delete a rubric, go to the associated activity (Assignment, Discussion, etc.), select to edit the activity, and click the X next to the rubric name to remove it. Then follow the steps above to delete it permanently from the course.

    

Attach rubrics to assignments or discussions for grading purposes.

Once rubrics have been created, you can attach them to an assignment folder or discussion topic to use when grading. Here are the steps to connect your rubrics to activities.

1. To attach a rubric to an Assignment:
   • Click Assignments in the navbar.
   • Click the down arrow next to the Assignment name, and select Edit Assignment.
   • Click to expand the Evaluation & Feedback panel.
   • Click Add Rubric.
   • Choose either Create New or Add Existing.  
   • Click the checkbox next to the rubric you want to attach, then select Add Selected.
   • Click Save and Close.
2. To attach a rubric to a Discussion Topic:
   • Click Discussions in the navbar.
   • Click the down arrow next to the Topic name, and select Edit Topic.
   • Select the Assessment tab.
   • Click Add Rubric. 
   • Click the checkbox next to the rubric you want to attach, then select Add Selected.
   • Click Save and Close.