Create rubric rating scales

Create rubric a structured set of grading criteria. For example, an English rubric might contain a criterion for reading comprehension, grammar, and writing rating scales. Similar to a grade scale, these are the ratings teachers can enter for each rubric criterion. For example, you might create a standard rubric rating scale; the scale you use for most rubrics. The standard scale might include:

• 1 = Beginning
• 2 = Developing
• 3 = Meeting
• 4 = Exceeding

You might create another rubric rating scale that you use for elective courses that includes the following ratings:

• E = Excellent
• S = Satisfactory
• U = Unsatisfactory

When you create a rubric rating scale, you define the details of the scale, and then define each rating within the scale.

To define the details for a rubric rating scale:

1. Log on to the District view.
2. Select Assessment > Rubric Rating Scales. The Rubric Rating Scales page appears.
3. Select Options > Add. The New Rubric Rating Scale page appears.
4. Type a name and description for the scale.

   Note: After you define all of the ratings for the scale, the number of ratings appears in the Number of ratings field.

5. If you want Aspen to display an error message when users enter a score on their gradebook Scores page that is not on the rubric rating scale, select the Use explicit values only checkbox.
6. Type the maximum number of points a student can receive in this scale.
7. Type any comments that help users understand the use of the scale.
8. Click Save.

To define each rating within a scale:

1. Click the Rubric Rating Scales side-tab.
2. Select the rating scale you want to create ratings for, and click Ratings on the Rubric Rating Scales side-tab.
3. Select Options > Add. The New Rubric Rating Scale Points page appears.
4. In the Sequence number field, type a number to indicate where this rating appears in comparison with the other ratings in the scale.

   Example: When a teacher enters ratings for a criterion, he or she can press CTRL+L to access the pick list of available ratings for the criterion. The value you enter here determines where this rating appears on the pick list.

5. Type the Identifier. This is the value teachers enter or select in the grade column.
6. Type a name and description for the rating.
7. In the Points field, type the maximum number of points a student can earn and receive this rating.
8. In the Cutoff field, type the minimum number of points a student can earn and receive this rating.
9. Select the Is mastery? checkbox to designate this rating as a mastery of the subject being assessed.
10. Select Is hidden from gradebook? to hide this rating in the Staff view (Gradebook > Scores and Gradebook > Reporting Standards > Rubric Rating Scales). Hidden ratings will still appear in the School view (Grades > Grades Input) for users who need to enter or edit scores.

    Note: A hidden rating scale does not appear when a teacher selects a score using CTRL+L or Options > Lookup on the Gradebook Scores page. However, a teacher's rating scales might have values that overlap with hidden rating scales. When the teacher enters an overlapping value and updates her post columns, Aspen uses the value associated with the hidden rating scale.

    Example: A teacher uses a rating scale with values 1 through 10 in her Gradebook. The district creates a hidden rating scale, ES, that uses values 1 through 5. The teacher enters a score of 5 and posts her grades. Aspen uses the ES rating scale (1 through 5) and posts a 2.5 to the transcript.

11. Click Save.
12. Repeat Steps 3-11 to define each rating within the scale.

Now, when you create an actual rubric, you define which scale teachers use to enter ratings for each criterion in a rubric.

For example, teachers might use the Standard rating scale for a criterion such as Reading Comprehension, and the Social Development scale for the Class Conduct criterion.