Levels of development should be discernible in every rubric. Some key features of rubrics are detailed below.
- The descriptors for the different levels in rubrics should increase in complexity across the levels.
- The language used should be descriptive and directly related to student understanding.
- Broad descriptive words like 'usually' and 'reasonably' should be avoided.
An example of a basic rubric for a short task could be similar to the following, where various aspects of understanding of a concept may be displayed.
What is a sample?
|Level 1: A single idea associated with the sample concept||
A little bit.
|Level 2: Several aspects of the sample concept but incomplete||
A part of something, not the whole thing but a piece of it.
A sample of dirt, like something they did tests on.
|Level 3: Complete description including the representative nature of sample||
I would have a piece of something to show me what the whole thing is like; like carpet.
A small portion of something larger to try it out.
More complex rubrics for projects or investigations are discussed in Statistical Investigations.
You can download sample rubrics for: