AI Business LensTHE BUSINESS OF AI, FOR PEOPLE WHO TEACH IT OR LEARN FROM IT
Tech & Learning · September 7, 2026

10 Reasons To Stop Giving Students A Rubric (And Foster New Learning)

EducationAssessmentCurriculum & Instruction
THE AI ANGLE
Generating polished responses that satisfy detailed rubric criteria

Steve Baule argues that routinely providing upfront rubrics encourages compliance and point-hunting over genuine problem-solving, an issue heightened as generative AI can easily fulfill predictable, checklist-based assignments. For curriculum and assessment instructors, intentionally withholding or delaying rubrics fosters productive uncertainty, compelling students to navigate ambiguity and define quality independently. This shift allows faculty to better evaluate authentic student thinking and prepare learners for real-world tasks that lack predetermined templates.

THE TEACHING ANGLE
Instructors must balance the pedagogical clarity and equity of structured rubrics against the need to cultivate student autonomy and creativity through open-ended, ambiguous challenges.

Read the original at techlearning.com   Generate teaching or study materials

Instructors get discussion guides, assignments, and mini-cases. Students and readers get a plain summary, class prep, and an exercise. All built from the full article. Three are free with an account.

More in Education