Workshop: Using Personas as Holistic, Subjective Assessment Rubrics

Rubrics are a useful tool for translating performance criteria to an overall rating of quality. In areas where there is not one correct solution but a range of acceptable and difficult-to-express responses, rubrics can be difficult to develop and use. This method uses personas, a technique found in human-centered design, to develop a holistic rubric that is particularly useful in areas where the performance rating is highly subjective. Examples include scholarship applications (e.g. NSF S-STEM grant programs), competitive positions (e.g. REU programs), and classroom performances (e.g. design presentations), among others.