Product Expectations
Write a term paper
Complete the worksheet
Take the exam
Tired, traditional assignments bore both students and faculty. Spice up your online course with alternative products that engage learners in authentic learning experiences.
Products and Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a common problem in both traditional and online courses. Assigning projects that require real-world data and personal connections, eliminates the possibility of simply copying and pasting from papers found online. Also design unique assignments that require students to compare and contrast, critique and create, or design and demonstrate.
Ideas to reduce plagiarism:.
- Minimize objective tests that ask for factual information
- Focus on analysis and application questions
- Ask students to connect answers to their personal experiences
- Rather than producing papers, ask students to critique
Products with Pizzazz
As students work with course content, how will they share their understandings? Explore some of the following products:
Audio Product. Audio clips, podcasts, and MP3 files could all be submitted as student products. They might include public service announcements, commercials, interviews, narrations, directions, instructions and other audio-rich content.
Explore an audio project:
- Harmony and Counterpoint - music
Blogs. Use the blog environment as a tool for questioning, exploration, and investigation. Individually or in groups, students chronicle the inquiry process and share their experiences, reflections, and challenges. Classmates interact and share ideas, provide feedback, and critique ideas. Any type of written work can be the focal point for a blog such as poetry, short stories, or television scripts. However, blogs can also be used to share other creative works such as artwork, musical scores, and video productions.
Examples:
- Critics and Builders by Bernie Heidkamp, English teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School, IL.
- Extreme Biology by Ms. Baker and students
- Mr. Proehl Social Studies Class - 6th grade
- Planet Infinity My KHMS Math Class by Rashmi Kathuri, Delhi, India - Also Figures Speak Mathematics
- Ron Hirschi Visits Eastview Elementary - Connorsville, IN
- Secret Life of Bees, THE contains chapter theme postings, visuals, and discussions based on this book.
- SLMS Bridging Theory and Practice
Graphic. A picture is worth 1000 words. Think about products that would ask students to create a visual as a final product such as a concept map, map, photograph, drawing, diagram, logo or other visual.
For instance, high school students read the award winning graphic novel titled The Pride of Baghdad by Brian K. Vaughan. Student write their own graphic novel set in Baghdad using Comic Life software.
Explore the use of Comic Life for producing a biography.
Explore examples of visual products:
- Architecture - photos of models completed by students (projects)
- Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice - create a graph or chart
- Stories Without Words: Photographing the First Year - photo projects
- Writing and Humanistic Studies: Documentary Photography and Photo Journalism - photos
Prototypes. Ask students to create an object.
Explore examples of student projects:
- PE for ME - prototypes of exercise equipment
Timeline. Create a timeline. Use Timeline at Wikipedia for ideas.
Video Product. Students can submit video projects such as demonstrations, re-enactments, and public service announcements.
Explore examples of video projects:
- German Culture, Media, and Society - short films
- Introduction to the Visual Arts - note the Shaping Time PDF
- Spanish for Bilingual Students
Wiki. Involve students in constructing a wiki. Learn more about wikis in learning at Wiki World.
- 21st Century Educational Technology and Learning
- Applied Math 40S Wiki Solutions Manual
- Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
- Digital Photography Wiki
- Westwood Schools managed by Vicki Davis
- Wiki Lit
For more ideas for project focus, go to these webpages at escrapbooking.com
Reminders!
Design authentic assignments.
Apply It!
Explore options for student products.
Brainstorm products that would demonstrate student understanding.