Inspire Blog Tag: Rubric

Two Sides to Every Rubric

Research on rubrics has often focused on validity and reliability (Matshedisho, 2020), but more recent work explores how students actually interpret and use rubrics (Brookhart, 2015; Matshedisho, 2020; Taylor, 2024; Tessier, 2021). This emerging scholarship consistently shows a gap between instructor intention and student interpretation. For example, Matshedisho (2020) found that “students expected procedural and declarative guidance, while instructors expected conceptual, reflective work” (p. 175). If students understand rubrics differently than we intend, rubrics cannot fully support learning. Below are key reasons this mismatch occurs—and strategies to close the gap. Tacit Knowledge and Language Students bring varied backgrounds, disciplinary exposure, and assumptions to their learning (Brookhart, 2015; Matshedisho, 2020). Many do not enter college knowing what a rubric is or … Two Sides to Every Rubric
by · March 3, 2026

You Are Here: The Importance of Course Mapping

As higher-ed professionals involved in course design, we have the honor, privilege, and responsibility of shaping the learning experiences for countless students. Among the many tools at our disposal, course mapping stands out as a fundamental technique that deserves a spotlight. Couse mapping fosters clarity, and showcases alignment between the learning outcomes/objectives and course materials, assessments and activities. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of course mapping in online higher-ed courses, highlighting its role in meeting the new requirements in the recently updated Quality Matters (QM) rubric 7th edition. Join us as we delve into the transformative power of course mapping, benefiting course developers, instructors, instructional designers, and learners alike. The Big-Picture: The updated QM rubric (7th … You Are Here: The Importance of Course Mapping
by · July 17, 2023

Rubrics: Markers of Quality – Unlock the Benefits! (Part 1)

Would you like to save time grading, accurately assess student learning, provide timely feedback, track student progress, demonstrate teaching and learning excellence, foster communication, and much more? If you answered yes, then rubrics are for you! Let’s explore why the intentional use of rubrics can be a valuable tool for instructors and students. Value for instructors Time management: Have you ever found yourself drowning in a sea of student assignments that need to be graded ASAP (like last week)?  Grading with a rubric can quicken the process because each student is graded in the same way using the same criteria. Rubrics which are detailed, specific, organized and measurable clearly communicate expectations. As you become familiar with how students are commonly … Rubrics: Markers of Quality – Unlock the Benefits! (Part 1)
by · June 17, 2019