Creating and Attaching Rubrics for Ultra Courses

You can use rubrics to grade many items in Scholar Ultra Courses. To Do so, you must first create the rubrics, and attach them to an assignment or test question.  To add a rubric to an assignment, first enter the item via the Course Content feed, and click on the Assignment settings button on the far right hand side. 

Assignment Settings

A sidebar will open with a list of settings options for the assignment. Scroll down to the section labeled "Additional Tools", and select "Add grading rubric". 

Use Grading Rubric

A list of available rubrics will replace the sidebar. If the rubric you wish to use already exists, select "add" next to the rubric in question. 

Add Rubric


You are also provided with the option to create a new rubric by clicking "Create New Rubric." If you click this button, a new window will open with a sample rubric template.


New Rubric Template


The default rubric contains four rows and four columns, with the columns containing labels ranging from "Excellent" to "Poor".  You are also provided with a dropdown to select the type of rubric you will be editing: 

  • Points allows you to assign a single point value based on which column is selected for each row. 
  • Points Range also uses points, but adds flexibility by making each column cover a range of possible point values rather than assigning a single point value. 
  • Percentages present the score in each column as a percentage. 
  • Percentage Range also uses percentages, but covers a range of possible percentages for each column. 

Rubric type dropdown


Every cell in the rubric is Editable, up to and including entire rows and columns. Hovering a cell will make the editing tools. appear for the cell (if editing a single cell) or the entire row or column (if editing a row or column header). Selecting the edit button will open the fields available for editing in those areas. 

Edit Cell

Row Header fieldsIndividual Cell fields

Once you have typed into these fields, hitting the Enter key will lock in what you have written and close the field.

There are several important things to note about editing: 

  • Row headers contain a field where the criteria for that row is named, as well as the weight of that row. If editing the weight of a row, you will not be able to save until the collective weights of all existing rows add up to 100%. 
    • If using Percentage or Percentage Range, this rule will not hold true for individual cells compared to row headers. However, it is recommended that you use discretion in editing these cells so that the top value in each row gives students a chance to potentially receive the top possible score in that row's criteria. 
    • When hovering over a Row or Column header, it is possible to delete the entire row or column using the Delete button.
      delete button
    • It is also possible to add a row or column using the Add button that appears when hovering between Row or Column headers.  
    • When editing individual cells, it is highly recommended that you provide a description of what level of performance merits the score given in that cell. This is especially important in providing students a sense of how the rubric will be used, as it will be visible to students who are submitting to the assignment. 



After all changes have been made, click Save at the bottom of the page to save your rubric. The rubric will then be attached to the assignment, as well as made available for any future assignments. 


Save Button

Students will also be able to see the rubric when they enter the assignment, allowing them to see in advance the criteria by which the assignment will be graded. 

Item Graded With RubricRubric Student View