Purpose of Assignments

Assignments are more than tasks—they are intentional learning tools that guide students toward achieving your course outcomes. Well-designed assignments help students apply knowledge, demonstrate skills, and engage deeply with course content. They also serve as key opportunities for feedback, reflection, and growth.

Aligning Assignments with Learning Objectives

Every assignment should have a clear connection to one or more of your course’s learning objectives. Ask yourself: What do I want students to know or be able to do as a result of this assignment? Aligning assessments with outcomes ensures that students are evaluated on what really matters and that your grading practices reinforce the goals of your course.

Formative vs. Summative Assessment

Formative assignments are low-stakes tasks meant to support learning during the process (e.g., drafts, practice quizzes, discussion posts). They provide feedback that helps students improve.
Summative assignments are higher-stakes evaluations of student learning at the end of a unit or course (e.g., final papers, presentations, exams). They assess mastery of the material.

Using a combination of both gives students multiple pathways to demonstrate learning and build confidence.

Planning with Transparency

Students are more successful when they understand what is expected. Use clear assignment instructions, specific due dates, and detailed rubrics to clarify expectations. Consider providing examples or models of strong student work. Transparency not only helps students succeed—it also makes grading easier and more consistent.

For a personalized consultation, please contact the Trulaske Instrutional Technologist, Angela Knoerr.