I needed to know more about creating assignments that would be effective for my students while making them so students could be more self-directed. So I've assembled several suggestions to improve online assignments.
Before you actually sit down to write the assignment or lessons, it is important to know what you want your students to get out of it. What skills are you hoping students can do at the end of the assignment. When students know what they are learning via this assignment, they are more likely to do the assignment because they do not see it as "busy work". Another thing to think about is the skill levels of your students. If the assignment is too far above a student's ability, they are likely to get frustrated and shut down whereas one that is too far below their ability will lead to a lack of motivation and boredom. The last thing to think about is which topics have students struggled with in the past so you can work on making those areas clearer through the use of videos, etc.
Our first instinct is to create the same type of assignment we would in class including all the directions. In class, we are able to give the directions in small increments but when we do it online we tend to just write them all out in paragraph form. It is best to use numbered lists or bullets with short simple steps anyone can follow. Many times, parents will be trying to help their student and the listed format makes it easier for them too. Furthermore, students and parents can check off each step as it's completed.
It is suggested one create a list of assignments, videos, class time, etc for the whole week in table form with a due date and a place to check each completed item. This helps students keep track of what they are doing and helps them keep up with pacing.. In addition, for math, add some choice so they can choose say 5 out of 8 problems. That way, they feel as if they can skip a problem if they don't know how to do it. Also, other than class time, do not set a specific time of the day something should get done so that the family can work it in around what they are doing.
It is also suggested the teacher be consistent when it comes to posting material for the class. It should be done at the same time and the format should also be the same for each assignment so students are not scrambling to find everything. A teacher might post daily with the daily work or weekly for one week worth of work, it depends on the age and school requirements.
Make sure the layout of the assignment is the same every time. Put the learning objectives at the top or bottom of every assignment and create a numbered list that has the same things in the same place. For instance, you might have a warm-up activity first every time, a video second with a fill in blank for notes, two practice problems where students fill in missing steps, and the problems last. It is also nice to put in a time for "office hours" so students can log in and visit with zoom or google hang outs or via phone.
For the assignments, it is also important to include multiple forms of representation such as making sure the videos have audio and closed captioning so students who have trouble listening can read as the person is speaking. If the assignment includes a reading, make sure there are images, videos, and audio to go with it.
If it is possible, allow students the opportunity to show you they can do the material via alternative means. Perhaps you can have them explain how they did a certain problem via video so they don't have to write the explanation down. Perhaps they want to create some sort of animation to show how the problem is solved.
So keep all these things in mind as you create the assignments for the class. On Monday, I'll be looking at some online things that might make it easier for students to work at home in math. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.
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