Assignments, Projects, and Tests

Examples of Questions Raised by UW Instructors:

"I believe that writing is essential to learning - how do i structure assignments that meets this goal and also my limited time?"

"Are there ways of structuring group work to have students self-direct their learning with less TA or faculty input?"

"How to make easy to grade tests that encourage learning and problem solving rather than memorization"

 

Suggested Resources that Provide Starting Points to Address These Questions:

Using Writing

• Assigning and Assessing Writing in Large Classes
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 12(4)
• CIDR Writing Workshop - Handouts
  • Time-Saving Tips - Responding to Student Writing
  • Low-Stakes vs. High-Stakes Writing
  • Four Ways to Get Better Student Writing
  • Plagiarism Prevention Strategies
• Helping Student Writers Succeed
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 3(1)
• Teaching Writing-Integrated Courses
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 8(3)
• UW Writes - Writing Resources for Departments, Teachers, and Students

... more on Using Writing

Using Small Groups and Student Teams

• Planning Group Projects
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 10(1)
• Problem-Solving in Groups
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 6(1)
• Turning Student Groups Into Effective Teams (pdf)
  Journal of Student Centered Learning, 2(1), 9-34 (2004)
• Cooperative Learning: Students Working in Small Groups, Stanford University

... more on Small Groups and Student Teams

Preparing Tests

• Testing and Grading in Large Classes
  CIDR Teaching and Learning Bulletin, 12(6)
• Techniques for Writing Multiple Choice Questions that Demand Critical Thinking
  University of Oregon
• Biology in Bloom: Implementing Bloom’s Taxonomy to Enhance Student Learning
  Supplemental Material A – examples of exam questions that assess student learning at multiple levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy
• Designing Tests to Maximize Learning
  Richard Felder- North Carolina State University
• Test Construction: Some practical Ideas
  Marilla Svinicki- University of Texas, Austin

... more on Writing Exam Questions