Quick Tip: Deliver Assignment Instructions as a low-stakes quiz

There are several ways that you can provide students with directions for an assignment:

• Provide a write up in a handout or post in Canvas. 

• Read parts of the directions to the class and ask if anyone has questions. 

• Create a quick video explaining the assignment. 
  

As an alternative, you can use the Canvas quiz or quick check function to walk students through assignment expectations step-by-step. Students have to affirmatively answer questions - ranging from a simple “Yes, I understand” to choosing between options - about different components of the assignment.

A question about the components of a final programming assignment, for example, might ask them to think about how many different smaller assignments they’ll need to complete over the semester. While this adds a little extra step, it helps reinforce the importance of carefully reading assignment instructions. Additionally, once you’ve created the quiz once, you can re-use it for every assignment. 

Delivering the assignment instructions as a quiz walks students through assignment expectations step-by-step and makes students affirm that they have read the instructions. Every small thing we can do to encourage students to slow down and read instructions carefully is helpful.