Using Rubrics in Brightspace

Within your course, you will have the option to create one or both types of rubrics: 

• Holistic – one dimensional, with single criterion and predefined performance levels. 
• Analytic – multidimensional, with various criterion categories. Allows for additional customization.  

While building your rubric, it can be beneficial to put its status in draft form. This is particularly important when the rubric will not be finished in one sitting and remains as a work in progress. When completed and ready, change the rubric status to "published." You can also archive previous rubrics you may want to revisit at a later point in time.  Change the status within the rubric editor by selecting the Status dropdown in the upper righthand corner. 

Each rubric type has a unique scoring structure. Select your preferred point format under the Scoring drop down at the top of the rubric editor.  

• Analytic rubric options 
  • Points – Creates a shared value across each performance level and criterion category.  
  • Custom points – Used to differentiate or weight specific criterion categories. This can be used when criterion vary in their value or emphasis.  
  • No points – Removes all point values. This can be used for low-stakes formative assessment, self-grading or practice assignments. 

• Holistic rubric options 
  • Percentage – Assigns a percentage score based on a general set of criteria. 
  • No points - Removes all point values. This can be used for low-stakes formative assessment, self-grading or practice assignments.

1. Select Rubrics under Course Administration.
   • Please note: You can customize your navbar for quick access to the Rubrics Tool.
2. Under Assessment, select Rubrics.
3. SelectNew Rubric.
4. Enter the details of your rubric.
   • Please note: the status of your new rubric will automatically be set to "Published" unless manually changed to "Archived" or "Draft."
5. Select Close.

1. Select Grades in the navbar.
2. Select New, and click Item.
3. Select your Grade Item Type.
4. Under Grading in the item properties, select [Create Rubric in New Window].
   • Please note, this will open the Rubrics Tool in a new browser tab. 
5. Edit your rubric.
6. Select Close. 
7. Return to your New Item tab.
8. Click Add Rubric.
9. Select your new rubric from the list. Click Add Selected.
10. Select Save and Close. 

Before attaching a rubric, ensure that its status is set to published. 

Assignments

To add a rubric to an existing assignment, select the corresponding item under the Assignments tab. Then complete the following steps:

1. Click Edit Assignment and open the Evaluation & Feedback drop-down on the right.
   
2. Click Add Rubric and select the rubric for this assignment. 
3. Next, click Add Selected.
4. Click Save and Close.

Discussions

To add a rubric to an existing discussion, select the corresponding item in the Discussion tool.

1. Select the chevron icon [⌵] to the right of the desired Discussion topic. 
2. Click Edit Topic.
3. Locate the Assessment tab
4. Select Add Rubric. 
   • To add an existing rubric, choose Add Rubric. 
   • To add a new rubric, select Create Rubric in New Window. 
5. Click Add Selected.
6. Click Save and Close.
   

1. First, select the submission you would like to assess. 
   • The rubric will populate on the right side of each submission under the Evaluation & Feedback header. 
2. Open the associated rubric and select the performance level for each of the criterion. 
3. Use the preassigned feedback or customize sections as desired. 
   • If the rubric uses points or percentages, the grade will calculate automatically; however, you can manually change category scores, total score and overall score. 
4. When finished with the rubric, select Close.  
   

1. Locate the discussion topic, select the chevron icon [⌵] and click Assess Topic. 
2. Under View Options, choose Show Topic Scores. 
3. Navigate to a learner’s submission and select Topic Score. 
   • If you have attached a rubric and the Assess with Embedded Rubrics feature is enabled, it will populate here. You can also view the learner’s threads and replies within this window for easier grading.
4. Select the performance level for each of the criterion per that submission. 
   • Use the preassigned feedback or customize each section as desired. 
   • If the rubric uses points or percentages, the grade will calculate automatically; however, you can manually change category scores, overall score and topic score. 
5. Scroll down to add general feedback as desired. 
6. When finished with the rubric, select Publish.
7. You will then return to the Assess Topics page. 
   • Continue grading other learner submissions. 
8. When done grading, select the Published checkbox for all new grades you would like added to the grade book. 
9. When finished, click Save and Close.