What are rubrics and grading guides?

GauchoSpace allows assignments to be graded in a few different ways. The most common way is to directly enter points into an assignment. However, GauchoSpace also allows instructors to grade students based on their performance or completion compared to a predefined set of criteria. This is possible through either a rubric or a grading guide.

A rubric sets out exactly how students earn points across different categories in an assignment.  The instructor (or other grader) selects how many points a student has earned in each category. A rubric is made in advance and is displayed to the grader while assessing the assignment. These category scores are then summed into an overall grade for the assignment. 

A grading guide works similarly. In a grading guide, ranges are set within a category and the instructor/grader enters how many points the student earned in that category. The category scores are then summed into an overall grade for the assignment.

When should I use a rubric or a grading guide?

Rubrics and grading guides can help keep grading consistent across students, as well as across graders. Both types work best for assignments are tasks that have several components to the overall score, such as term papers or projects, and when that overall score does not on its own convey feedback to the student as to why they earned that score.

Rubrics require exact descriptions for every possible point that can be earned in an assignment. Therefore, they are best suited for assignments that have a smaller number of possible scores in each category, for example being graded on a scale of 1-4 in different areas of a class presentation. See the example below.

Learn how to make and use a rubric here.

Grading guides are better suited for situations where the instructor wants to give graders more flexibility in scoring within a category. Instead of writing descriptions for every possible point, graders have a range they can score within for each criterion. The example below shows how the rubric from above might be interpreted as a grading guide.

Learn how to make and use a grading guide here.