Why Not Just Convert--Percentages or Points to Rubric Scores?

1. Rubric scores facilitate the formative assessment and improvement process.

2. Rubric scores lend themselves more directly to student self-evaluation and monitoring progress.

3. Percentages/points focuses student attention on collecting points and grades (“How can I get more points?”) rather than on learning (“What do I need to learn/do?”).

Why Not Just Convert--Percentages or Points to Rubric Scores?

4. Scoring using percentages/points “feels” like comparisons/competition with other students in the class. With rubric scoring it’s all about you and the rubric.

5. Rubric scoring uses a language that facilitates a common understanding across campus for students; e.g., a “3” is proficient in all classes.

6. Rubric scoring facilitates differentiated instruction—group all students trying to master level 2 content and skills together, all level 3…

Why Not Just Convert--Percentages or Points to Rubric Scores?

7. Percentages/points don’t identify proficiency/DOK levels; e.g., 75 % on an assessment that is mostly levels 3 and 4 might reflect higher achievement than a 100 % on an assessment that is mostly level 2.

8. Percentages/points don’t distinguish between or among students with the same or similar scores; e.g., student A gets a 60 by answering 4 weighted level 3 and 4 questions correctly and missing all 20 level 2 questions; student B gets a 60 by answering all level 2 questions and missing all level 3 and 4 questions.

EL: March 2014 | Volume 71 | Number 6 Using Assessments Thoughtfully Pages 34-37

New Assessments, New RigorJoan Herman and Robert Linn

Depth-of-Knowledge Level• Level 1. Draws on basic knowledge and rote learning• 25% (ELA)• 24% (Math)• Level 2. Requires some application of what's been learned and some cognitive processing• 38% (ELA)• 40% (Math)• Level 3. Requires the ability to research, synthesize, reason with evidence, and

communicate effectively• 26% (ELA)• 25% (Math)• Level 4. Requires extended planning, research, and problem solving that call on students'

self-management and metacognitive skills• 11% (ELA)• 11% (Math)

Proficiency Levels and DOK Levels

• JCHS Proficiency Level 2 DOK Levels 1& 2

• JCHS Proficiency Level 3 DOK Levels 2 & 3

• JCHS Proficiency Level 4 DOK Levels 3 & 4