What is a rubric?

A rubric is a scoring guide that outlines specific criteria for evaluating a student's work or performance. It breaks down the components of the work into distinct categories or elements, often providing descriptions of varying levels of achievement within each category. This helps both instructors and students understand what is expected in an assignment and how to achieve higher levels of performance.

Rubrics serve multiple purposes in the educational process. They provide transparency, making the evaluation process clearer and more objective as students can see exactly what is being assessed. They also facilitate more consistent grading across different assignments or evaluators. By outlining specific criteria, rubrics enable learners to self-assess and reflect on their own work, promoting a deeper understanding of the learning objectives.

The concept of a rubric is distinct from other choices such as group assessments, detailed studies of lesson plans, or student portfolios, as those do not serve the same purpose of providing clear evaluation criteria for specific assignments or performances.