Create a Rubric Assessment

Create rubric assessments to collect student work and assess student performance.

Monica Burke avatar
Written by Monica Burke
Updated over a week ago

Rubric assessments can serve many purposes. In the end, they are a great way to collect student work, such as images or videos, or to distribute copies of Google Docs.

💡 Tip: You can use a rubric assessment to collect student work and not add it to the gradebook, so don't let the word assessment deter you!

Here is an example of what a rubric assessment could look like for a student:


Create the Assessment

  • Step 1: Navigate to your Assessments module.

  • Step 2: Select Create Assessment.

  • Step 3: Select Rubric from the Otus Assessment options. Enter the Assessment Name, Assessment Type, and desired Grading Scale.

  • Step 4: Select Create.


Add Descriptors

As you create the descriptors for the rubric, your work will be automatically saved as you go. When you are done, simply return to your Assessment Drafts page if you are not ready to immediately Assign the rubric. You will see your new rubric draft listed under My Folders.

A rubric assessment must have at least one descriptor. Descriptors can be considered the different "sections" or rows of the rubric.

  1. Descriptor title (200 character limit)

  2. Description (1000 character limit)

  3. Link Standards (optional)

    1. If a standard is linked, the description of that standard will automatically populate in the description field

    2. Each individual descriptor can be linked to a different standard or set of standards

  4. Point values or performance levels

    1. If you are using a standards-based grading scale, the performance levels will automatically generate in this space

    2. If you are using a points-based grading scale, you can choose the point values to enter for each performance level

  5. Descriptions of each performance level (500 character limit)

  6. Add or delete a descriptor

  7. Collapse or open a descriptor

  8. Add or delete performance levels

  9. Add an additional descriptor

Descriptor Bank

Each time you create a Descriptor, it will be automatically added to your descriptor bank. When adding the Descriptor Title, you can type the first 3 characters of the descriptor to find ones that you have already created, starting with those 3 characters!


Add Attachments

Teacher attachments are optional, and are viewable by the student when they open up the rubric assessment.

  • Step 1: Under Attachments, click the Choose file button.

  • Step 2: Select the type of file you wish to attach (upload).

  • Upload File: Choose a file from your device to upload.

  • Link: Link to a web resource.

  • Photo: Take a live photograph with your device's camera or upload one that is already saved on your device. Acceptable files types are gif, jpg, jpeg, and png.

  • Video: Take a live video with your device (max. length of 5 minutes) or upload one that is already saved on your device (max. file size of 30mb). Acceptable file types are mp4, mov, and webm.

  • YouTube: Attach a link from a Youtube video.

  • Audio: Record live audio with your device (max. length of 5 minutes) or upload audio that is already saved on your device (max. file size of 30mb).

  • Google Drive: Attach resources from your Google Drive.

  • Microsoft OneDrive: Attach resources from Microsoft OneDrive.

💡 Tip: You can add up to 5 attachments on one assessment in the assessment builder, but if you'd like to add additional attachments, you can add up to 3 more on individual student assessments once they have been turned in.


Otus Live Video

Click to view videos from our Otus Live series on how to create a rubric assessment.

Below is a video from our Otus Live series on how to create a rubric in one minute or less.

For a more comprehensive look at our rubric assessment builder, check out the video below.


FAQ and Troubleshooting

Click to see FAQ and troubleshooting details.

Is there a limit to the number of descriptors that can be added to a rubric?

No, there is no designated limit to the number of descriptors allowed.

Is there a limit to the number of standards that can be linked to each descriptor?

Yes, the maximum allowed is 20 standards per descriptor row.

If I am using a standards-based grading scale for my rubric, can I edit titles of the performance levels or the number of performance levels?

No, the titles of performance levels for a standards-based rubric are generated automatically to match the levels set for that standards scale. You can customize the description of each performance level but cannot add or delete levels.

If I am using a points-based grading scale for my rubric, can I edit the number of performance levels?

Yes, when using a points-based grading scale, you can add or delete levels (see #8 in the section on adding descriptors above).

How can I use a rubric to collect student work that is not for a grade?

For standards-based rubrics, you can create a rubric with no standards linked, which will prevent it from appearing in the standards view of the gradebook. For points-based rubrics, you can mark the setting to exclude the assessment from the final grade calculation.

Are there file size limits and/or file type restrictions when adding images, video, and audio?

For more information on adding images, videos, and audio to Rubric Assessments, including file sizes and types, click here.

How do I save my rubric assessment draft?

Your draft is saved automatically as you are working on it, so there is no Save button that needs to be clicked. Simply return to your draft assessments page to locate it.

How do I edit or delete my rubric assessment draft?

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