Journal 6 - Trouble with Rubrics

Kohn, A. (2006). Trouble with rubrics. English Journal , 95(4), Retrieved from http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/rubrics.htm

In this article Alfie Kohn talks about the trouble that there are with rubrics. He begins by discussing the way in which they could be seen as useful when it comes to showing students where they went wrong and being able to improve their grades, and it gives them something definitive which they can improve, and it also helps in parent-teacher conferences when the parent asks why their child only got a certain grade, you can then show them exactly where their child went wrong and needs to improve. However it points out that it does not help the students who are driven on getting A's and the parents who drive their children to do so.

The article then goes on to discuss how the rubrics have turned teachers into grading machines, and they are not particularly looking at how the students are doing and they are just following the rubric to make sure that they have the essential parts of the assignment there and not the other parts which make students stand out. The rubrics however do help the student to understand what is required of them, and they can become dependent on them if they need to follow a structure, just to get a high grade in the class.

The article concludes that the rubrics, just make teachers leave the reason they went into teaching behind them, and the focus of the pupils learning is shifted away from what they are suppose to be learning and gaining in their education. The article does not say that the rubrics are a bad idea, it rather challenges the reasons behind having them and the usefulness of them in the classroom to "help" the students, whereas in some cases they are actually hindering the students.

Can the rubrics be used in a positive manner to help students?

They can be, however, there must also be a way in which the students are learning more than what they have to put in the work. The rubrics would work if the students were going to just follow them to get an idea of what they should do, kind of like a check list of what should be in there, however the grade that they receive should not be dependent on the rubric and the students would need to know this so they can aim to get a higher grade, with the assistance of the rubric, without the rubric holding them back.

Should students be able to create their own rubrics?

If a student was able to make their own rubric once they have been given an assignment and then the teacher checks it and makes sure that they have an idea of what is needed from them, it would allow teachers to find out what part of the work is most important to the teacher, and it would also allow the students to form their own ideas of what is required rather than providing them with the information. If the student however gets the wrong idea then the teacher can intervene then instead of when the final draft if due and they can assist the student where they need assistance allowing teachers a more one on one relationship, whilst at the same time making sure that the work is being done correctly and to the best of the ability of the student.