Blackboard Rubrics help you evaluate student work consistently and objectively by listing evaluation criteria for a given assignment or gradable item, such as blog entries or discussion board posts. You may use rubrics to explain you grading scale to students, allowing them to better organize their efforts to meet assignment requirements and expectations. During grading, as scores and feedback are entered into a rubric they are also automatically reflected in the Grade Center.
Create a Rubric 1. Open the Control Panel 2. Click Course Tools 3. Click Rubrics 4. Click Create Rubric 5. Enter a Name for the Rubric 6. [Optional] Enter a Description for the Rubric 7. Edit the Rubric Grid (see right) 8. Click Submit
Note: In addition to accessing rubrics through Course Tools, rubrics can also be created any time an assignment or gradable item is being created.
Edit the Rubric Grid Blackboard Rubrics default to three rows and three columns with pre-set criteria and Levels of Achievement. However, the Rubric Grid may be edited to correspond to the type of feedback and scoring desired. 1. Click Add Row to add a new Criterion to the bottom of the grid 2. Click Add Column to add a new Level of Achievement to the right of the grid 3. Select Rubric Type from the drop-down list: • No Points – Allows for feedback-only responses • Points – Assigns a single point value to each Level of Achievement • Point Range – Assigns a range of values to each Level of Achievement • Percent – Allows for more flexibility depending on an assessment’s possible points 4. Click [down arrow graphic] and select Edit to change row and column names 5. Enter a Point or Percentage Value for each row 6. Enter a Description defining each cell’s criteria and associated Level of Achievement 7. Click Submit
Remember: - There is a 1000 character limit for each cell’s description - Rows and columns can be reordered by clicking [icon graphic] -
Once a rubric has been used for grading, it cannot be edited; instead, copy the rubric to create a duplicate that can be edited (see reverse)
- The total weight for all criteria must equal 100% - For more information, please visit: https://distance.fsu.edu/instructors/ using-rubrics
Edit a Rubric Grid Copying a rubric is helpful if you’ve designed assignments for your students that follow the same criteria. This will allow you to keep the settings and simply re-name the rubric. Copying should also be used to edit a rubric that has already been used for grading. 1. Open the Control Panel 2. Click Course Tools
Associate a Rubric with the Grade Center Once associated with an item, rubrics are visible under the Grading settings of your assignments and other gradable items, and through the Edit Column Information menu in the Grade Center. 1. Open the Full Grade Center. 2. Open the Grading setting of an item or the Edit Column Information menu in the Grade Center
3. Click Rubrics
3. Click [down arrow graphic] next to Add Rubric, and choose one of the following:
4. Click [down arrow graphic] next to an existing rubric and select Copy
• Select Rubric – associates a rubric that you created in the Rubrics area of Course Tools (see Creating a Rubric)
5. [Optional] Click [down arrow graphic] next to an existing rubric and select Edit to modify a copied rubric
• Create New Rubric – opens a pop-up window to allow immediate creation of a new associated rubric
• Create From Existing – uses a previously created rubric as a template to create a new associated rubric
Grading with Rubrics Grading with Rubrics A rubric will need to be associated with an assignment prior to grading. Gradable rubrics can be associated with Blackboard Assignments, Essay and Short Answer Test questions, Blogs, Journals, Wikis, and Discussion Board threads and forums. 1. Access the item to be graded 2. Click View Rubric to begin grading with the associated Rubric 3a. In Grid View (shown on front), click a cell to apply that point value to the grade; if a Rubric with point ranges has been used, select the desired value from the drop-down list 3b. In List View (shown on right), click a button to apply that point value to the grade; if a Rubric with point ranges has been used, select the desired value from the drop-down list 4. [Optional] Enter Feedback in the text box that appears when a cell has been selected 5. [Optional] Click List View to switch displays and select an option for each criterion to apply that point value 6. [Optional] Select the Levels of Achievement boxes to Show Descriptions for criteria and to Show Feedback text boxes 7. The Raw Total score will update as point selections are made; type a score in the Change the Number of Points box to override the selected score. 8. [Optional] Provide overall feedback using the full features of the text editor 9. Click Save to submit the score and feedback, otherwise click Exit to leave without saving any selections; Click Save and Next to move on to the next gradeable item. The Florida State University • Blackboard Rubrics Guide