Class Notes: Types of Assignments
"What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember.
What I do, I understand."
Assignments fall into two classes: objective or inquisitive.
Objective assignments are used to assess, review, and apply factual information.
A learner can select from multiple choice answers and receive feedback.
If the instructor uses a course management software package, such as E-tudes
or WebCT, the grades can be automatically posted in the gradebook.
Use Objective Assignments to:
- automate grading
- reinforce mastery of factual information
- provide learners with instant feedback
Most objective assignments ask learners to interact only with the content
not with each other or the instructor. Objective assignment are
ideal for the multiple-choice format.
There are three basic functions of objective quizzes and tests:
- the gatethe student must master this content before advancing.
- the onrampthe quiz can be used as a study guide where computer
gives constructive feedback until the student gets it right.
Example: Goal or Objective
- assessmentto assess how well the student mastered the information.
Examples of Objective Assignments
Study Guide Quiz for Diane Wang's HTML course
K. Gibson's Standard Template Library (STL) for C++ Tutorial
Examples of Rubrics
Blue Web'n Site Evaluation Rubric
multimedia presentation checklist
Objectives (from this course)
Design and Accessibility Rubric
Inquisitive assignments help people reflect, analyze, and extend the
learning. Some teachers with large numbers of students use combinations
of collaborative inquisitive assignments and objective assignments. They
often offer the collaborative inquisitive assignments as extra credit
or in lieu of a quiz or test. That way, the students who show initiative
take advantage of the collaborative project, but the instructor doesn't
have to spend an inordinate amount of time prodding and helping with group
Use Inquisitive Assignments to:
- apply complex ideas or procedures
- demonstrate comprehension of complex ideas
- develop a project plan (budget, management plan, or publicity campaign)
- encourage creative thinking
- encourage questioning of abstract ideas
- spark the growth of unique view points and perspectives
Examples of Inquisitive Assignments
- write (article, review, essay, report, etc.)
- create a Web site
- create artwork (icons, illustrations, photographs)
- exercise critical thinking skills
- explore with interactive simulations
- foster group discussion
- participate in a critique lab (students post their work and other
students critique their work)
Examples of Assignments in the Online Medium
(You will need the Flash
or Shockwave plug-in installed to view these interactive multimedia
- Nutrition instructor Betty Clamp designed a series
of interactive lessons. Students read text, view videos and animations,
and then perform diet analysis by experimenting with an interactive
online calorie and body mass calculator. http://www.ohlone.cc.ca.us/instr/cfs/fuelinfood.htm
- "Explore Science" features highly interactive
science activities for students and educators allowing users to change
variables and see how that effects the outcome. For instance, students
can learn about additive and subtractive color by changing the values
and seeing the results.
- Susan Dean, Math Professor at De Anza College worked with Round World
Media to develop two interactive lessons including an interactive linear
regression calculator that allows users to enter in the x y coordinates
and plot a line of best fit.
There are basically three types of collaboration in online learning:
- group projects participants produce something
- group discussions participants discuss topics
- peer critiques members provide constructive criticism of each
For more information on online community:
"Online Activities at Your (Electronic) Fingertips... A How-To Guide
for creating the best online activities that really work!" by Scott
Hildreth, Nancy Masterson, Ginny Wallace March 2000
"Collaborative Learning Using Online Tools," produced by @One
"Teaching/Learning Activities" by the UMUC-Bell Atlantic Virtual
Resource Site for Teaching with Technology. shows samples of online assignments.
"A Brief Summary of the Best Practices in College Teaching
"A Framework for Designing Questions for Online Learning," by
Intended to Challenge the Professional Development of All Teachers,"
compiled by Tom Drummond North Seattle Community College.
Lin Muilenburg, MA University of South Alabama and Zane L. Berge, Ph.D.
This article describes a theoretical framework for designing questions for
starting online discussion and follow-up questions to maintain the discussion.
This framework is placed within a broader context of discussion within a
constructivist, online environment. Numerous examples of discussion questions
that were gathered from experienced online instructors are presented with
the goal of preparing students and teachers to participate effectively in
"Moderating Educational Computer Conferencing" by
Robin Mason Institute of Educational Technology The Open University http://emoderators.com/papers/mason.html