Rubrics
Tutorial: Create a rubric
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Tutorial: Editing a rubric in D2L
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Rubric Resources at D2L
Rubric Resources at other Colleges & Universities
Rubrics in D2L, Depaul Teaching Commons
Instructor: Rubrics at the University of Arizona
Faculty FAQs about D2L Rubrics (click each question below to view the answer)
Can we provide helpful resources within our automated "initial" or "overall" feedback?
Yes. We recommend providing resource links to ensure that assessment feedback actually advances student learning.
How do we link a rubric we created within the D2L rubric tool to a D2L discussion?
For a refresher, view the text and image tutorial and the related video at D2L's Knowledge Base titled "Attach a rubric to a discussion topic."
Can Pima students see rubrics in advance to plan ahead for their assignment or discussion?
Yes. All students at any college utilizing D2L Brightspace can view rubrics associated with any visible assignments or discussions. Rubrics linked directly through the D2L Grades tool however are not visible unless the institution includes the "Rubrics" option in the course navbar.
Currently, as of January 2021, Pima does include rubrics within the navbar. Visible, transparent rubrics can help students be prepped for success - especially if faculty encourage students to review those rubrics as they draft and revise their submissions.
However, this transparency practice also means that students can view all rubrics at any point, regardless of their status (i.e. draft or published). In other words, students can see rubrics as you create and save each draft of those rubrics.
Given our settings, if you want to design a rubric in progress without making it visible to students, we recommend designing your rubric in a separate course sandbox and then copying that rubric into the course in progress.
Can we use the rubrics tool to create automated or "initial feedback" that links out to resources for our students
Yes. You can create automated or "canned" feedback for each level of any criterion row. Instructors, while grading, can manually add to that feedback as needed for each student. To learn more, visit the "Create a Rubric" page at Lone Star College Online.
As with form letters, can we automate first names in our automated "initial feedback" to personalize our feedback?
No. Given that in the effort to streamline D2L's new rubrics experience, the D2L's HTML Editor tool was removed, you are not able to utilize replace strings like "{FIrstName}" within this tool.
As such, we recommend that during the assessment process, faculty manually personalize their feedback by including student names and referencing specific aspects of the submitted work.
If you want to promote a shift in D2L's approach to this tool, visit Can you use replace strings in Rubric individual feedback fields? at the Brightspace Community.
How can students learn about rubrics?
Link in your guidance to our Rubrics page at the PimaOnline Student Guide.
Can we embed video feedback to the automated "initial feedback" corresponding with specific criterion row items?
No. This tool does not include an HTML editor, so you cannot embed video feedback or resources here (i.e. you cannot use videonotes here).
However, you can link out to a cloud-sourced video tool (e.g a Loom or Screencast-O-Matic video link or a captioned YouTube video).
Regardless, keep in mind that video can be embedded through the "Overall Score" section of the rubric. Within this section, utilize a miniature version of the HTML editor to share video feedback using the "Insert Stuff button."
Why am I not able to associate a rubric with a Competencies activity or Brightspace Portfolio item?
Explore this question and more directly through the latest resources at D2L Brightspace
Rubric Training
Does Pima offer free, advanced courses for faculty on rubric design and use?
Yes. Here's the course:
LEAD 180 Rethinking Rubrics. This practicum engages participants in collaborative inquiry around the design, use and careful analysis of rubrics. Using D2L as a platform, participants will review, design and analyze a variety of rubrics and related teaching and learning artifacts. To support praxis - the intersection of theory and practice - all participants are asked to engage as reflective practitioners in a shared review of essential beliefs about teaching and learning as it relates to assessment and feedback practices. Likewise, course readings and teaching artifacts will present a broad variety of approaches for consideration in the context of online, hybrid or web-enhanced teaching. Scenario-based inquiry will focus both on the use and misuse of rubrics and other assessment tools. By the end of this course, faculty will be able to design, use and be able to demonstrate the viability of rubrics addressing a range of learning activities.
To register, visit pima.edu, open MyPima and navigate to My Career Center (Employees > Work > My Career Center). Then use the search bar to locate courses titled "LEAD 180 Rethinking Rubrics" and choose the current fiscal year. From that page, register for our course which is currently offered annually in the Fall. To learn more, visit our faculty development and training page.