Assignment instructions

From Library Instruction Wiki

When I've prepared an instruction session specifically to support a class assignment, I've found it highly beneficial to start the session by asking the students to explain their assignment to me. I like to write out their responses up on the white-board.

This has a couple of nice effects.

• First, it gets the students thinking about the exact requirements of the assignment
• Second, it gets them talking and participating in the class
• Third, if the instructor is in the class, they almost always will jump in at this point and correct the students' understanding of the assignment. This tends to really help get the students thinking about the instruction, and tends to lead to more instructor involvement in my sessions.

Once the students have told me their assignment, and after the instructor has cleared up any misunderstandings, the class as a whole tends to be more task-focused and better prepared to understand the steps involved in their research processes.