Technology is the driving force of the modern world, and it has come a long way since we first ventured onto the path of discovery. As a society, we are racing toward the future, but it seems like the education system is taking its time to get there. It is moving in the same direction, just very slowly.

One of the main aspects of education that is behind the times is the assessment of student performance. Far too many examinations, from the first grade to the twelfth, assess the students based on what they know. In reality, what is being tested is how much information students can cram into their minds in a short time and how much they can regurgitate onto a piece of paper. 

An Overview of Performance-Based Education

As you may have guessed, students that participate in this kind of education are assessed not only on their knowledge but also how their knowledge is applied and how they use their acquired skills. In other words, it is based on how they perform. 

This educational approach is also sometimes called outcome-based education and is different from the traditional approach. How? It strives not only for the mastery of skills and knowledge but also measures those factors in a practical context. 

Performance-based education challenges educators to create instructions that are focussed on tasks and their completion. 

What Are Rubrics?

By definition, a rubric is a tool used for scoring that explicitly represents the expectations of performance for an assignment or a piece of work. A rubric divides the work into components and provides clear descriptions of the work characteristics that fall under each component at various levels of mastery.

Rubrics are used by teachers as a way to assess a range of different learning activities and assignments – papers and essays, group or individual projects, lab work, exam questions, artistic performances, oral presentations, and more.

The Role That Rubrics Play In Performance-Based Education

When using rubrics, educators are able to determine in what areas a student performed well during an assignment, as well as in what areas they did not. Grading becomes easier and more efficient, and, most importantly, it is fair for all students in the school. 

Additionally, if all students are familiar with the criteria for their assessments, they will be able to plan beforehand and plan their learning and studying more successfully. Rubrics can help students become more independent, self-assessing, and self-directed. 

Rubrics and E-Learning

If you are using a virtual classroom platform, then you are still able to make full use of rubrics. Let’s look at Pedagogue, for example. This platform allows you to create virtual classrooms, assign work to students, and much more. 

You can still provide your students with the rubrics that will be used to assess their assignments. Thus, they can receive all of the benefits that rubrics provide while still participating in e-learning. 

Concluding Thoughts

It is safe to say that rubrics serve quite an important role in creating assessments that are based on performance, which is both standard-driven and student-centered. They are essential for fair, helpful assessments for all students.