Yasser Al Wasifi
A rubric is essentially a scaled tool with levels of achievement and clearly defined criteria related to each level and placed in a grid. Rubrics differ from simple checklists and rating scales by including descriptions of each criterion for each level of performance. The purpose of a rubric is to specify teaching and learning outcomes for both teacher and student, thereby reducing the subjectivity inherent in assessments and guide the students to a higher level of self-directed learning. A number of studies have demonstrated the positive impact that well-designed rubrics have on dental students’ preclinical learning. These studies suggested that rubric use was associated with improved academic performance, and the potential of rubrics to identify the need for improvements in courses and programs has been demonstrated. Also, the literature supports the use of rubrics in dental education as an effective tool for assessing clinical skills and student progression toward competence. When rubrics are a part of the preclinical teaching and learning process, studies have documented improved outcomes. As the perception of using structured rubric differs between the students and instructors, further studies are recommended to demonstrate their effectiveness not only in the assessment of the practical competencies of the students but also as a self-directed learning tool. So, further studies, are required to demonstrate their effectiveness as a self-directed learning tool in the pre-clinical environment where the students are novice learners.