Brightspace Rubrics: Overall Score Section

In Brightspace rubrics, the Overall Score is the score a student’s work falls under based on points and identifies the final performance level for a student’s work based on the total points earned

Relevant to: faculty

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Introduction

In Brightspace rubrics, the Overall Score is the score a student’s work falls under based on points and identifies the final performance level for a student’s work based on the total points earned (D2L, n.d.). This feature could be used to demonstrate the overall achievement level and help students interpret their results. The Overall Score could be edited to indicate the associated levels for a certain range of points earned, such as achievement (performance) levels or grading schemes. If levels are used to describe the overall score, levels labeled as Exemplary, Proficient. Developing, Proficient, or Exemplary could be used to match how the rubric levels were set up. Another option is to use the course's grading scheme (A, A-, B+ with the corresponding grade ranges).

Overview

The Overall Score section in Brightspace appears beneath an analytic rubric and can be updated while creating or revision a rubric. This section will not automatically populate to match the levels and points chosen for the rubric and will need to be updated manually however you decide is helpful for the particular rubric, assessment, or course. Figure 1 shows the default Overall Score level names and points when a rubric is created. Figures 2 and 3 show the Overall Score updated with a course’s grading scheme, which is a recommended best practice. Figure 2 shows the editing view, and Figure 3 shows the student's view. This method provides clarity for students in understanding their score.

The best practice in setting up the Overall Score is to align the rubric points with the course's grading scheme so that point totals, letter grades, and achievement levels use the same standard of performance. Grading schemes provide a set of numerical grade ranges and associated letter grade.

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3. 

Options and Methods for Updating the Overall Score

There are options for how the Overall Score may be created. Examples include using the course’s grading scheme or the achievement levels that match levels indicated in the rubric.

• The recommended best practice is to create the Overall Score levels in alignment with the course's grading scheme. (Use the letter grades based on grading scheme used in the syllabus; the grading scheme may or may not be also activated in the gradebook.) When designing a rubric, it is best to create the levels of the rubric based on the grading scheme. Example: A (minimum 93), etc.
• Another option is to create the Overall Score by levels of achievement to match the levels in the rubric. If the points for each level are already determined, then the levels/overall score categories for performance could be based on the rubric levels. This method may be more useful in formative assessments. Examples: Level 1 aka No Credit (minimum 0 points); Level 5 aka Outstanding (minimum 90 points)