Aligning Assignments with Learning Goals

When we’re clear about our goals for student learning, we can then choose assignments that ask students to do work that will likely result in their achievement of those goals. Provided below is a range of assignments—appropriate to many disciplines—that we can review to determine if they match our learning goals.

Learning Goals

• Engage course material
• Think critically
• Reflect on learning and practice
• Communicate effectively
• Think creatively
• Develop scholarly skills
• Develop professional skills
• Work together
• Bridge academic and real-world understanding

Engage Course Material

This kind of assignment...	Helps students learn to...
Freewriting	generate ideas by writing experiment freely with ideas discover their thoughts about and reactions to course content prepare to participate in discussion become more comfortable writing know themselves better as writers
Discussion points	read carefully and critically prepare to participate in a discussion
Journal or learning logs	read carefully and critically respond personally to readings differentiate between the ideas in a reading and students' own ideas about that topic prepare to write more formal papers about readings prepare to participate in a discussion
Microtheme	see to the heart of an issue concentrate on a single, focused issue select only the most important points to make be concise prepare to participate in a discussion
Summary, precis, brief	read or listen carefully and critically select the most important points in a reading present points succinctly prepare to participate in a discussion
Business or strategic plan	prioritize activities, resources, and needs forecast events and needs of a given industry or discipline identify resources and required documents/materials apply and evaluate course concepts in practice situations identify gaps in their knowledge raise new questions about course concepts
Course/project blog(s)	respond personally to readings differentiate between the ideas in a reading and students' own ideas about that topic prepare to participate in a discussion debate course concepts publicly craft writing for a specific audience

Think Critically  

This kind of assignment...	Helps students learn to...
Discussion points	read carefully and critically prepare to participate in a discussion
Journal or learning log	read carefully and critically respond personally to readings differentiate between the ideas in a reading and students’ own ideas about that topic prepare to write more formal papers about readings prepare to participate in a discussion
Book (or article) review	read critically and carefully summarize a book’s content analyze a book's structure and method evaluate a book's success select evidence to support an evaluation
Argument paper, position paper	identify an arguable issue think critically about a course-related issue think independently develop an arguable position find and present supporting evidence acknowledge and respond to opposing arguments write persuasively
Experimental or lab report	articulate and describe the purpose of an experiment review relevant literature describe methods accurately organize results logically discuss the significance of results identify needs for further research draw inferences and conclusions based on evidence
Proposal, prospectus for research	identify questions that are worth researching and that are manageable within the scope of the course ask good questions see research as a process develop a plan for research develop a methodology for research ask for help in the process of conducting research modify research plans based on the instructor’s response
Oral argument	organize/prioritize information analyze, predict, address, and adapt to audience(s) speak publicly identify an arguable issue think critically about a course-related issue think independently develop an arguable position find and present supporting evidence acknowledge and respond to opposing arguments write persuasively
Debates	organize/prioritize information analyze, predict, address, and adapt to audience(s) speak publicly acknowledge, evaluate, and respond to opposing arguments work in teams identify an arguable issue think critically about a course-related issue think independently develop an arguable position find and present supporting evidence acknowledge and respond to opposing arguments write persuasively
Case studies/scenarios/simulations	apply and evaluate course concepts in practice situations identify gaps in their knowledge raise new questions about course concepts write detailed descriptions of observations or experiences
Library research	evaluate the quality of resources identify relevant library resources access resources that are available in the library

Reflect on Learning and Practice

This kind of assignment...	Helps students learn to...
Learning plan	develop and exhibit meta-cognitive skills develop accountability for their own learning plan over time reflect on their learning identify strategies for learning within the course domain identify personal learning goals relevant to the course or major
Journal or learning log	read carefully and critically respond personally to readings differentiate between the ideas in a reading and students’ own ideas about that topic prepare to write more formal papers about readings prepare to participate in a discussion
Reflection paper	develop metacognitive awareness: understand their own learning process document and evaluate how their understanding of concepts has changed over time develop flexibility with course concepts make the implicit explicit apply self knowledge to future situations
Portfolios	assess their own work develop metacognitive awareness assemble materials with an outside audience in mind showcase their best work

Communicate Effectively

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