Institute/Session Summary:

Both parties complain: "What are we supposed to do?" say the students, confused. “Don’t they know what they’re supposed to do?” we teachers say, dismayed. Too often instructors envision the great benefit our pupils will derive from the various assignments we give, but, in the end, too many of our students turn in a hodgepodge of work that isn’t at all what we wanted them to do. Why? Because they didn’t understand the instructions!

Over the years, I have perfected a way to format assignments that actually gets students to do what I want them to do--and to get it in on time! I’d like to share this technique with fellow teachers who may (like I did for years) still be searching for the elusive solution to the problem of getting students to understand not only what they’re “supposed to do” but also why you want them to do it. I do not pretend that my method of preparing assignment instructions represents ground-breaking research in the teaching field, but many instructors have gotten out of the habit (or never knew how) to include some very important elements to the directions they prepare for students. But I can show them an easy, practical way to reinforce pedagogical concepts, clarify their expectations, and insure that assignments accomplish what they are designed to accomplish.

I will present via a loosely-paced PowerPoint, with handouts interspersed for discussion’s sake. Although I expect to entertain questions and comments along the way, I will also reserve some time for a question-and-answer period at the end and will distribute a blank format form and suggest the classroom teachers in the session jot down a few thoughts about specific assignments they might have in mind for their classes.

I feel confident that the session would be well received by both new instructors and veteran ones because I have shared the technique with countless colleagues (of varying experience), and most responded well to it, many even adopting it in their own teaching.

Presenter1 Name: Laura Foster-Eason
Presenter1 Institution: Collin County Community College
Presenter1 Bio: Professor Foster-Eason has been teaching Development Writing at Collin County Community College for over fourteen years. She also teaches Composition, rhetoric, and grammar courses. She has developed a custom textbook used by her department and created and conducted numerous Study Skills Seminars for students and community members.