• Communicating assignments

    Communicating assignments

    Clear communication around assignment tasks can have a substantial impact on student performance, as is illustrated through the Beating the Attainment Gap project below. At Solent each assignment should be accompanied by a video assignment brief and a 'fit to submit' checklist. Tutors should also give students the opportunity to discuss the assignment in small groups and ask questions about the task when it is set. 

    • Key Questions

      • How do you communicate the rationale of the task set and put the assignment in the context of the wider course? 
      • How do you communicate the objectives of the task clearly?
      • How do you give students an opportunity to interact with the brief and ask questions?
      • How does the team help students understand/review the steps required to successfully complete the assignment?


    • Solent best practice

      Video Assessment Briefs

      Martin Skivington and Edd Bolton discuss the effectiveness of recording assessment brief videos.


    • Beating the attainment gap project

      Solent in part of the Beating the Attainment Gap (BTAG) project. The project has found that two interventions improve student achievement, particularly among BAME students:

      • creating time for students to discuss the assignment in class with peers before asking the tutor questions on the task
      • creating a fit-to-submit checklist for each assignment that students fill in before submission



      This video is from a Solent Learning and Teaching blog. Find out more by visiting the full blogpost. 

    • Support at Solent

      • Student Achievement Team: to find out more about reducing the attainment gap, and how you can support all your students to perform well on assignments contact the student achievement team. 

    • Tools and resources 

      • Use Panopto to create video assignment briefs: follow the set-up process or contact LTL@solent.ac.uk if you are new to panopto. 
      • Use the checklist tool in SOL to add assignment checklists. One checklist will already exist in the Assignment section of each module. This checklist can be modified. To add a new checklist, click on 'add resource' and select 'checklist' from the options. 
      • Use the 'Unit Announcements' and 'Frequently Asked Questions' forums in SOL to communicate with students regarding assignments. All students are automatically subscribed to these forums, so will receive an email when a new comment is posted. 


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