Meaningful Assignments

Through my reader I found a article that really has an impact on teaching today and particularly in higher ed.  The article discusses the fundamental five.  Five things an assignment must have to make it the best learning experience for our students.

These were:
1) Purpose--What is the goal of the assignment
2) Efficency--Is the assignment given the best way to get this material taught?
3) Ownership--This is does that student have buy in to the assignment and process or are they jumping through hoops for a grade.
4) Competence-Is what we are asking them to do reasonable?
5) Aesthetic Appeal-Does it appear to be interesting or even, *gasp* fun?  Or is it some boring task.  How can we package the assignment to achieve the greatest good.

These are key factors that I think we should consider when creating assignment and projectg for our students.

John

Source: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Five-Hallmarks-of-Good-Homework.aspx

On to the next day...

Well the move is over, well sort of, it is all moved, but our three car garage is about waist deep in boxes to be unpacked.  But the basics a bed and the internet are good to go. 

With that said I wanted to blog about a related topic that we learned about in my other class this weekend.  This is something that I want to incorporate when I work toward revamping my online classes to make them more interactive and user friendly.  Our professor last Saturday led us through a serious of activities in regard to writing sound objectives.  She help us with the basics of what an objective needs, but also how to tell if it is good or not.  She said to keep asking you why. 

An example: I want students to search the internet for Business Examples of Economic Recessions.  Why:  Because I want them to be able to explain a recession.  Why:  They need to know what a recssion is and why it relates to the economy.  Why: Because their future careers may be effected by recession economic times.

It just made me think so I wanted to share this thought process with you.