Use these resources to design assignments that communicate purpose, expectations, process, and criteria; support student learning; and help students understand how their work connects to course goals.
Assignment Design Resources
Start here for resources on assignment purpose, learning outcomes, criteria, and student-facing expectations.
- TILT Higher Ed: Examples and Resources - Use the transparency framework to clarify an assignment's purpose, task, and criteria.
- AAC&U VALUE Assignment Design and Diagnostic Tools - Align assignments with intended learning outcomes and VALUE rubrics.
- AAC&U VALUE Rubrics - Use faculty-developed rubrics to clarify expectations and assess authentic student work.
- The Scholarly Teacher: Improving Student Success with Transparent Assignments - Practical guidance on making assignment purpose, tasks, and evaluation criteria more explicit for students.
Scaffolding Assignments and Student Process
Use these resources to help students approach complex work in stages, practice important skills, and understand how assignments build over time.
Note: Faculty Focus articles require users to create a free account and sign in to access the full text.
- Faculty Focus: Scaffolding Student Learning - Tips for breaking major assignments and assessments into smaller steps that support learning.
- Faculty Focus: More Than a Name - Practical guidance on how assignment framing, titles, sequencing, and feedback influence student engagement.
Selected LMU Faculty Examples
Selected examples from LMU faculty:
- Woodson-Boulton Deconstructed Essay - LMU example of assignment scaffolding and transparency.