Do you give students assignment choices?

Teaching and learning is all about demonstrating mastery of course goals and outcomes. The best way for students to demonstrate mastery is through an activity chosen and produced by each individual student. We should always provide choices for ways in which students can demonstrate what they have learned.

Students are all different in the way they learn and the way in which they explain concepts to others. When students produce an assignment for assessment, they are, in effect, explaining concepts to their faculty, who, will grade their attempt at demonstrating mastery of the content. It stands to reason, that assessment projects should be different throughout the course.

Faculty complain about grading papers and yet they continue to assign multiple papers in every class. Frankly, I stopped doing that a long time ago. Only in pre-designed classes where I cannot change assignments, do my students write papers. They write a lot in the discussions every week and so they get plenty of writing practice, review, and revision without having to write one or more papers during the class term.

There are many ways to demonstrate mastery that are more effective as well as more interesting to produce and assess. Instead of assigning textbook homework and written essays, try some of these ideas. I guarantee your students will enjoy the diversity and you will find grading much more interesting too.