August 4, 2025

Rubrics Reimagined: Innovation in Assessment Design

Why do rubrics matter? At their best, rubrics clarify expectations, streamline grading, and give students a roadmap to success. A well-designed rubric offers transparency, consistency, and fairness in evaluation. It answers questions before they arise and allows both instructor and student to focus on learning, not guesswork.

But creating a truly effective rubric can take time, practice, and a solid understanding of instructional goals. That’s why the Center for Innovation at Jackson College recently provided hands-on training to introduce a tool that makes the process easier: the Jackson College Rubric Creator.

This specialized web application, powered by Google AI Studio, helps faculty design or revise rubrics using artificial intelligence. Whether you are starting fresh or refining what you already have, the Rubric Creator is built to support high-quality, efficient assessment design.

Here’s what it can do:
Build or improve: Start with a new assignment description or upload an existing rubric and receive tailored suggestions.
Customize every detail: Set the number of criteria, label performance levels, choose between points or percentages, and add your own course grading scale.
Align to learning outcomes: Request that the AI include specific learning objectives or college-level standards.
Refine with ease: Make revisions by simply typing what you want to change, such as combining criteria or adjusting the wording.

The tool also includes helpful features like prompt history, example assignments, and flexible exporting. Faculty can copy the final rubric into Canvas or download it for other uses.
Rubrics are not just tools for grading. They are instructional guides that reinforce what students should be learning. When used consistently, they can reduce confusion, support equitable feedback, and encourage students to take ownership of their work.

With the Jackson College Rubric Creator, faculty can design rubrics that are not only fast to build, but also aligned with best practices. Ready to try it out? Visit the Center for Innovation or request a personalized walkthrough. You can start by choosing one assignment in your course to apply a newly designed rubric. Watch how it shapes your students’ understanding and improves your grading experience.

Innovation begins with clarity. And clarity begins with a great rubric.