There current design of Canvas rubrics present some visual accessibility and consistency issues we would like to suggest are fixed.
There are also some formatting features which if implemented would enhance student learning and rubric design.
I've listed the four identified issues below along with proposed solutions.
Issues:
1. Vertical lines in the rubric grid do not line up across the entirety of the rubric, even when rubric criteria have the same point ranges attached to them. This makes the rubrics less easy to read and scan through.
2. Line breaks and dot points are not supported within rubric criteria or ratings.
3. General text formatting (bold, italics, hyperlinks) is not supported within rubrics.
4. Some rubrics use the same rating descriptors across all criteria. When this the case, descriptors must be repeated within the rubric. This takes up unnecessary space.
Proposed solutions:
1. Evenly spaced and aligned vertical columns in rubrics would make them easier to read.
2. Supporting line breaks and dot points within rubric criteria and ratings would allow for additional formatting options and improved readability.
3. Allowing for general text formatting (bold, italics, hyperlinks) would support teachers and designers in the presentation of rubric criteria and ratings, and linking out to additional resources for students would assist them in understanding the rubrics and teacher expectations.
4. Where all rating descriptors across criteria are the same in a rubric, allowing the option for a fixed heading of rating descriptors at the top of the rubric would be useful and save space and repetition.
