Develop Rubrics and Criteria ChecklistsDescription
Rubrics and criteria checklists are critical for ensuring clear expectations, fairness, and consistency of scoring in all of the required elements of the exhibition. Students must have access to these rubrics and/or checklists prior to beginning their work. It is suggested that any rubrics or checklists be included in the exhibition handbook so that students, parents, and mentors can access them.
Things to Consider
Rubrics for both written and oral components of the exhibition must be provided. When writing rubrics it is important that the criteria for these rubrics align with the Grade Span Expectations, applied learning standards, and Common Core of Learning as captured in the school's mission and Expectations for Student Learning. Analytical rubrics are more specific than holistic rubrics; they isolate major traits being assessed, are effective for self-assessment, and for use during formative or summative assessment. The complexity of analytical rubrics does require additional time for development and building staff consistency in implementation. When developing analytical rubrics you should ensure that they are:
- Parallel: Each descriptor parallels all the others in terms of criteria language used in each sentence
- Coherent: The rubric focuses on the same criteria throughout
- Continuous: Change in quality from performance level to performance level is equal; descriptors reflect continuity
- Aptly weighted: An apt, not arbitrary, weighting of each criterion in reference to others
- Aligned: Elements correspond to the GSEs and/or other outcome(s) being assessed
Tools
Exhibition Oral Presentation Rubric
The Oral Presentation Rubric must be used, in some form, for the evaluation of exhibitions that are functioning as a School-Wide Diploma Assessment. This rubric outlines the required minimum standards required by RIDE. It may be modified to include more information, but schools may not remove the criteria. Because this is a required rubric, it is quite detailed and it may be helpful for panel judges to use the simpler checklist provided along with the rubric as a student is making his/her presentation. They can use this checklist to record their impressions, and transcribe the judgments to the more formal, detailed rubric after the presentation is completed.
The "Reference Standards" column identifies the Grade Span Expectations, New Standards English Language Arts Standards, and New Standards applied learning standards that are being addressed.
Exhibition Research Rubric
This tool will most likely be used by schools that do not require a formal research paper as part of their exhibition requirements. For example, Rhode Island Skills Commission capstone projects allow students to use a physical model (such as a robot) and supporting documentation instead of a formal research paper.
Exhibition Research Paper Rubric
This tool will most likely used by schools that require a formal research paper as part of their exhibition requirements. Both the research paper and writing conventions rubric must be used when assessing student performance.
The Research Paper rubric details the minimum standards required by RIDE. Schools should feel free to add but may not remove criteria.
Writing Conventions Rubric
This tool will be used to assess student performance on all written components of a graduation exhibition.
The Writing Conventions rubric details the minimum standards required by RIDE. Schools should feel free to add but may not remove criteria.
Reflective Writing Review Checklist
This checklist was created based on consultation with GSE W-12-14 (Reflective Essay) and NCEE Applied Learning Standards.
Capstone Evaluation Rubrics
This document was developed by the Rhode Island Skills Commission. These are examples of judging rubrics for evaluating exhibitions. These rubrics provide descriptions of all the requirements a student must fulfill in order to meet or exceed standard on a capstone project. The rubrics include applied learning rubrics, content standard rubrics, and final presentation rubrics. Only schools working with the Rhode Island Skills Commission should use this rubric in its entirety; other schools should modify it to meet their own needs.
