Hi Gregory,
Students love it when they can see a visual as to what is expected of them. Students tend to get higher grades if they can see a visual.
Patricia Scales
Showing the examples of both best and worst work allows the students to understand what is expected. I have done this with their outside class projects/presentations and it has been embraced by the students.
Greg
Patricia,
As an English instructor, I find it helpful to provide my students with relevant examples of grade types for given papers. I usually pass out examples of A-F papers, so students can see where they need to concentrate their efforts. These examples consist of margin comments, a short paragraph on strengths and weaknesses, and a rubric. The rubric contains the criteria and the relevant points for the overall grading of the paper.
My students love these examples. The examples help them avoid unnecessary mistakes.
Hi Seth,
Students develop more confidence if they can see what is expected of them with an assignment/project.
Patricia Scales
Hi Beverly,
They are really nervous. We as educators should do our due diligence to put students at ease; we should focus less on intimidating our students.
Patricia Scales
Hi Lori,
Absolutely! Students have a solid understanding of requirements if they can see an example. Examples bring about great clarity.
Patricia Scales
It helps prime the students in the content of the course and engages them in a progressive manner.
It is helpful to show students examples of the work they will be doing because it helps to decrease stress and anxiety. Most students are nervous about beginning a new course.
Great techniques-I find that many times the students have the knowledge and some idea about the assignments/questions but do not know how to answer that problem- showing a sample really gets them going. I also use this technique often in the review sessions before the exams so as to help students better understand the material and also to answer a question well in the exams if a similar question is asked.
Showing examples is helpful so the students know what is expected of them.
Hi Acie,
Anytime you get the opportunity to use visual examples, please do so. Visual examples are far better than verbal examples. Students get to see and gain a better understanding with visual examples.
Patricia Scales
I use as many examples as I can in my classes. I use them to clarify what is good or bad, as examples of what I am looking for from the students, and as a basis for discussion starters. I find the student enjoy critique and it helps open their eyes to what can be done in the field.
Hi Tracy,
It is simple! Visual is clarity!!!
Patricia Scales
I feel it is helpful to my students because it gives them the opportunity to see what the expectations are of the assignment, they have an outline, so to speak. It also allows the student the opportunity to ask questions if there is anything they do not fully understand about the assignment or course.
Hi Michelle,
Students have a much better understanding by seeing an example. Visual adds much clarity.
Patricia Scales
I also like to show examples of "professional" work as well so the students have a better understanding of what will be expected of them in the "real" world.
I find that students really seem to enjoy seeing other students' works. It takes what might seem at first like a difficult or tedious assignment on paper and gives proof that it's "doable." It gives them a better understanding of how others have interpreted the assignment in the past and also gives them ideas on how to create something of their own. The more ambitious or creative students are also challenged to create something "better" knowing their work might be chosen as a future example for other classes.
Patricia et al. – Hope all is well and Happy 2014. Showing our learners examples of the assignments, essays, projects, and the like (may be from a recent class) allow the facilitators to set expectations, as well as create a baseline of what assignments should look like. It is recommended the instructor should also show and circulate in class what a “meeting expectations†or a C grade assignment is. This approach, along with a well-structured grading rubric, avoids surprises to both the students and well as the instructor.
A second advantage of showing prior work is to review the format, length, depth, breadth, citations, references requirements for the different assignments.
Regards.
This is a great suggestion! Showing examples of previous students work clarifies expectations, sets a standard that students can model, and may reduce the stress of the unknown. I plan to implement this suggestion in an upcoming course to help alleviate student anxiety about required group assignments.
