Sample Project
Assessment Rubric
Goal: Formulate and complete a project that addresses a combination of social, cultural, humanistic, and technical issues
Learning Outcomes (university-wide)
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the project’s technical, social and humanistic context.
2. Define clear, achievable goals and objectives for the project.
3. Select and implement a sound approach to solving an interdisciplinary problem.
4. Analyze and synthesize results from social, ethical, humanistic, technical or other perspectives, as appropriate.
Sources of evidence: Meetings, presentations, report, and project implementation in general
Excellent (A) Good (B) Fair, Acceptable (C)
Goal and objectives Project has a well-conceived and clearly Project has a stated goal and Project has a stated goal and objectives, and the
stated goal and objectives, and the goal is objectives, and the goal is achieved. goal is partially achieved.*
achieved.
Background and A sophisticated understanding of social, Shows a good understanding of Does not consider some important social, cultural,
project context cultural, humanistic, and technical issues social, cultural, humanistic, and humanistic, and/or technical issues related to the
related to the project is evident technical issues related to the project or shows a poor understanding of them,
throughout the students’ work. project. limiting project outcomes and credibility.
Methods Students select and implement sound Students select reasonable methods, Weaknesses in methodology are often
methodologies to achieve the goal, and implementation of methods is unrecognized or could have been anticipated and
understanding and communicating their mostly sound. Limitations are addressed, or students do not approach project
limitations. acknowledged. systematically.
Analytical thinking Students analyze data or design Data or design alternatives are Little evidence that a systematic process was used
alternatives systematically, in-depth, and analyzed mostly systematically. to analyze data or design alternatives. Critical
with critical thinking. Critical thinking is usually evident. thinking is often weak.
Recommendations or Delivers clear, comprehensive Delivers useful recommendations to Recommendations may not be useful to sponsor or
other deliverables recommendations to the sponsor that are the sponsor that are supported by are weakly supported by project findings.
well supported by project findings. project findings.
*Sometimes the project goal is not entirely achieved for reasons that are beyond the students’ control. Advisors evaluate only what is within the students’
control.
Copyright © 2019 WPI Center for Project-Based Learning
*Sometimes the project goal is not entirely achieved for reasons that are beyond the students’ control. Advisors evaluate only what is within the students’
control.
Copyright © 2019 WPI Center for Project-Based Learning
