Rubrics are complicated for me. They are positive in that they set clear expectations for students and greatly assist a teacher in grading. They are a negative for me because it can turn an assignment into merely a point getting exercise. I think creativity and depth is self-limited by students who get too focused on what is being graded, as opposed to the intent or expectation of the assignment. Certainly rubrics can be written to challenge students for depth and creativity, but I have several students who use their smarts to try and out-wit the system of rubrics and stick to the basics instead of challenging themselves to go above and beyond.
But on the positive side, I think rubrics are a must for projects or presentations. There usually is not a clear cut right and wrong answer, so if a teacher wants to evaluate these in an authentic manner, a rubric is necessary. It is not always fair to compare presentation against presentation when doling out grades, so having criteria to evaluate is much better. I think there is value in letting students know what the criteria is ahead of time as well. Often a teacher has an idea in their mind as to what a great project looks like, but a rubric is a very good tool to articulate the mental image.
But on the positive side, I think rubrics are a must for projects or presentations. There usually is not a clear cut right and wrong answer, so if a teacher wants to evaluate these in an authentic manner, a rubric is necessary. It is not always fair to compare presentation against presentation when doling out grades, so having criteria to evaluate is much better. I think there is value in letting students know what the criteria is ahead of time as well. Often a teacher has an idea in their mind as to what a great project looks like, but a rubric is a very good tool to articulate the mental image.