Sample Rubrics

Sample Rubrics

These rubrics are samples that have come from a range of schools as they work through the process of identifying skills they want to track and establish stages of development.

The sample rubrics here, which I will add to over time, have been developed as schools work to clarify the stages of development they would expect students to work through as they increase in competency. No rubric is final, because schools need to be open to modify rubrics as their own experience and understanding deepens.

The rubrics target skills that schools have identified as being important as they move students towards the goal of being 'life long learners'.

Sample rubrics include:

Focus On Tasks Finding Relevant Information Validating Information Using Information

Communication of ideas, thoughts, decisions and understanding Clarify Issues

Willingness to Contribute Appreciate Other's Contributions Receive Criticism

Give Constructive Criticism Managing Conflict Mediation Skills Giving Compliments

Receiving compliments Sharing and Turn Taking

Focus on the task
Stage 4	Very self-directed and focused, demonstrates leadership in keeping a group on task.
Stage 3	Demonstrates a strong ability to focus on a task regardless of other distractions.
Stage 2	Focuses on the task and who demonstrates an ability to focus on the task when interested however other group members must sometimes nag, prod, and remind to keep this person on-task.
Stage 1	Has difficulty focusing on the task and what needs to be done. Allows others do the work or attempts to distract others.

Finding Relevant Information
Stage 5	Uses multiple sources to find relevant valid information
Stage 4	Identifies and utilises a source to find relevant information
Stage 3	Finds relevant information from a given source
Stage 2	Uses a single provided source to find some information that is peripheral
Stage 1	Unable to use a source to find information

Validating Information
Stage 5	Uses a range of resources, checking publication dates, researching the credibility of the author and critiquing the arguments found for and against the stand taken
Stage 4	Uses a range of resources, checking publication dates, and researching the credibility of the author
Stage 3	Utilises a range of sources to validate information also checking publication dates
Stage 2	Validates information by checking against a second source
Stage 1	Unable to validate information or just accepts information with no checking

Using Information
Stage 5	Finds a range of possible solutions and applies information to make insightful decisions where multiple factors, conflicting needs and opinions need to be considered and catered for.
Stage 4	Applies information to a range of situations to form own opinions or solutions, debate issues, create a hypothesis, develop strategies after considering the opinions of others.
Stage 3	Can apply information to solve problems, form an opinions, make predictions, or form understanding
Stage 2	Can apply information to make a decision or form an opinion
Stage 1	Unable to apply information to make a decision or form an opinion

Communication of: outcomes, decisions, justifications, arguments, understanding, opinions.
Stage 5	Communicates understandings, opinions, decisions with valid supporting reasons that show consideration of a range of factors
Stage 4	Communicates understandings, opinions, decisions with a range of supporting reasons
Stage 3	Communicates understandings/opinions/decisions with a supporting reason
Stage 2	Communicates understandings/opinions/decisions with no supporting reasons
Stage 1	Unable/unwilling to communicate understanding or decisions

CLARIFY ISSUES
Stage 5	Able to identify a range of issues (including major and minor) and pose at least three relevant questions to assist in clarifying those issues, taking a position and being able to justify their stand
Stage 4	Able to identify several issues (including 1 major) and pose at least three relevant questions to assist in clarifying those issues, able to take a stand on one major issue.
Stage 3	Can identify one issue associated with task and able to pose at least 2 questions to assist clarifying that issue
Stage 2	Can identify one issue associated with task
Stage 1	Unable to clarify issues

Appreciate Other's Contributions
Stage 4	Response provides critical and positive feedback
Stage 3	Response indicates recognition of other viewpoints
Stage 2	Will respond when relates to own view point
Stage 1	No acknowledgement

Willingness to Contribute
Stage 4	Makes planned and insightful contributions in informal and formal situations
Stage 3	Makes appropriate contribution in informal and formal situations
Stage 2	Makes inappropriate contribution
Stage 1	Doesn’t contribute

Receive Constructive Criticism
Stage 4	Consistently able to discuss, negotiate, and act upon agreed outcomes
Stage 3	Listens to, discusses and makes some suggested changes
Stage 2	Will listen to and consider constructive criticism with occasional change/s
Stage 1	Reluctant to discuss and makes no change/s

Give Constructive Criticism
Stage 4	Respectively gives thoughtful justified constructive criticism and negotiates possible outcomes
Stage 3	Respectively gives thoughtful constructive criticism with appropriate suggestions
Stage 2	Gives simple constructive criticism
Stage 1	Doesn’t give constructive criticism

Conflict Management (independence in managing conflict )
Stage 4	Can independently manage conflict using a range of strategies and appropriate choices
Stage 3	With or without support, can manage conflict using a range of strategies.
Stage 2	Recognises a conflict situation but has limited strategies for managing conflict and may make appropriate/inappropriate resolution choices.
Stage 1	Does not recognise a conflict situation. Does not recognise/accept own role in a conflict situation.

Conflict Management (mediation skills)
Stage 4	Recognise situations where they can safely act as mediators, and can use appropriates skills and strategies to manage and de-escalate conflict
Stage 3	Makes choices to act as mediator but may, through inappropriate strategies, skills or actions not always successfully de-escalate conflict.
Stage 2	Has a few basic strategies for conflict mediation and attempts to mediate with support
Stage 1	Consistently avoids involvement and withdraws or whose actions escalate the conflict

Consensus
Stage 4	Fully engages in negotiation, critically listens and responds appropriately, demonstrating leadership in reaching a consensus decision
Stage 3	Engages in negotiation, demonstrates willingness to concede aspects to help reach consensus decision
Stage 2	Engages in discussion but unwilling to move their own position
Stage 1	Unwilling to be involved in negotiation towards a consensus decision

Give Compliments
Stage 4	Consistently able to give genuine, specific compliments in a relevant context.
Stage 3	Able to give genuine compliments in a relevant context.
Stage 2	Able to give a general compliment which may not be relevant.
Stage 1	Unable to give a compliment.

Receive Compliments
Stage 4	Consistently able to graciously receive, accept and acknowledge a compliment.
Stage 3	Usually receives a compliment in a positive way and can acknowledge it.
Stage 2	Gives a negative/inappropriate response to a compliment.
Stage 1	Does not recognise a compliment.

Sharing and turn taking
Stage 5	Takes leadership roles assisting others to ensure turn taking and sharing occurs
Stage 4	Shares and takes turns independently and willingly.
Stage 3	Able to share and take turns with guidance.
Stage 2	Has difficulty sharing and taking turns.
Stage 1	Does not share and is unable to take turns.