In increased schooling, project titles typically serve a useful objective, indicating the sequence of assignments quite than their particular targets. Nonetheless, deliberately structuring project titles and codecs can considerably affect pupil engagement and studying outcomes, particularly in on-line programs. Making use of grownup studying idea, we redesigned assignments to emphasise process-based studying and provide scaffolded alternatives for college students to interact with genuine duties. This method clarified expectations, enhanced efficiency, and fostered a extra collaborative relationship between school and educational designers.
We grounded our redesign in grownup studying idea (andragogy) as a result of our pupil inhabitants skews older, with a median age of 25, and plenty of are returning learners balancing coursework with careers and household tasks. Grownup studying idea emphasizes that adults be taught finest after they perceive why they’re studying one thing, see clear relevance to real-world contexts, and are given alternatives to replicate and apply their information authentically. With these rules in thoughts, we aligned assignments with skilled situations, constructed suggestions alternatives into the workflow, and broke duties into logical phases to help reflection and significant considering.
Constructing on this basis, we reconsidered how assignments have been labeled and structured. Historically, assignments have been labeled “Homework 1” or “Homework 2.” These labels communicated sequence however not objective. To foster pupil understanding and engagement in a Prescriptive Analytics course that focuses on mannequin constructing and mannequin evaluation, we restructured assignments round two key phases—Mannequin Setup and Mannequin Insights—and renamed them utilizing a constant construction—Mannequin Setup and Mannequin Insights—adopted by a quantity (e.g., Mannequin Setup 3, Mannequin Insights 3). This format clarified every project’s stage within the modeling course of with out overwhelming college students with overly advanced titles.
Determine 1. The revised prescriptive analytics modeling format and objectives emphasize the modeling course of and are cut up into two submissions with interim teacher suggestions.
To reinforce pupil studying, we divided the homework assignments into two submissions with an interim teacher evaluation. For example, in a single project the place college students needed to match challenge managers to numerous tasks, they first reviewed fictional emails presenting the issue, constraints, and vital knowledge. After finishing their challenge’s preliminary setup, college students acquired individualized teacher suggestions that inspired them to assume critically about how they approached the issue and the assumptions they made earlier than transferring on to investigate their outcomes. This chance for early intervention supplied help, lowered confusion, and constructed college students’ confidence to higher put together them for creating and working their spreadsheet fashions. Total, this two-step method fostered deeper considering and engagement with the educational materials and interpreted the outcomes by extra questions and displays.
To help pupil studying and put together them for the graded modeling assignments, we launched every module with a sequence of low-stakes, formative quizzes constructed round simplified case-based situations utilizing business-style communication comparable to mock emails and voicemails. These actions helped college students construct familiarity with core modeling ideas and decision-making logic earlier than tackling extra advanced duties.
Graded modeling assignments have been framed utilizing business-style communications comparable to mock emails and memos to bolster real-world relevance. For instance, in Mannequin 4, college students acquired a collection of emails outlining a sensible project downside, together with targets, constraints, and related knowledge. College students submitted their Mannequin 4 Setup individually and acquired teacher suggestions earlier than advancing to the Mannequin 4 Insights section, the place they used Excel to construct an optimization mannequin, interpret the outcomes, and reply to scenario-specific questions in a timed quiz. A brief video presentation accompanied their submissions to clarify their suggestions and rationale. Excel was chosen because the modeling platform as a result of it’s freely accessible to our college students and contains Solver performance. This two-phase project format, supported by structured templates and clearly outlined expectations, provided early steering, inspired iterative studying, and promoted deeper engagement with course ideas whereas supporting particular person accountability.
The outcomes have been clear when evaluating course participation earlier than and after implementing the brand new method. Submission charges for all modeling assignments elevated by 18 proportion factors. Along with increased completion charges, college students demonstrated measurable enhancements in downside formulation, crucial considering, and communication expertise. These adjustments aligned carefully with the course studying outcomes and have been bolstered by focused quiz prompts and structured teacher suggestions.
Most notably, engagement within the “new method course” prolonged past primary necessities. Whereas at the very least one sensitivity evaluation was required, practically half of the scholars voluntarily accomplished an extra, non-obligatory evaluation. Given how tough it may be to encourage college students to finish even required coursework, this stage of voluntary participation highlights the facility of purposeful project design to drive deeper pupil funding.
Based mostly on this redesign expertise, we suggest a number of methods for instructors and educational designers aiming to create extra partaking, genuine assignments. These embody utilizing purposeful titles, scaffolding advanced duties, framing assignments in real-world contexts, and integrating instruments that help communication and suggestions.
Desk 1 offers an summary of those methods and design suggestions:
| Technique | Instance | Function |
| Descriptive Titles | “Mannequin Setup 4” “Mannequin Insights 4” | Clarifies the aim and section of labor |
| Scaffolding | Two-part submissions with suggestions | Reduces cognitive overload, reinforces studying |
| Actual-World Framing | Case-based prompts, mock enterprise emails | Builds relevance and engagement |
| Know-how Integration | Spreadsheet mannequin, video reflection | Helps pupil modeling follow, skilled communication of an issue assertion, resolution method, and suggestion with numerous pupil expression |
By renaming assignments, scaffolding duties, incorporating real-world situations, and integrating student-centered suggestions mechanisms, we helped college students transfer from performative process completion to significant, process-oriented studying. Our collaboration demonstrated that intentional course design, grounded in grownup studying rules, could make assignments greater than a grade. It could make them matter.
Most significantly, these methods are extremely transferable. Whereas our work was rooted in a prescriptive analytics course, the rules of clear objective, scaffolded construction, and genuine engagement could be utilized throughout disciplines and modalities. School and educational designers can adapt these approaches for numerous disciplines within the humanities, sciences, or skilled applications to help significant studying.
This redesign additionally reinforces the worth of partnership between instructors and educational designers. Via open collaboration, we mixed disciplinary experience with design considering to create a studying expertise that was extra intentional, extra partaking, and in the end, more practical.
Salina Randall, MEd, is the Affiliate Director of the Middle for Instructing, Studying, and Know-how on the College of West Florida. She leads initiatives centered on educational design, school improvement, and digital accessibility. With over a decade of expertise in increased schooling, she helps school in designing inclusive, partaking, and data-informed studying experiences. Her work spans course design, accessibility compliance, and strategic communication, with a specific emphasis on empowering school by collaboration and sensible options.
Dr. Julie Ann Stuart Williams is a Professor of Enterprise Administration on the College of West Florida. Her analysis spans operations administration and enterprise schooling, with current work specializing in bettering enterprise pupil writing and modeling-based studying. She has co-authored papers with college students in journals such because the European Journal of Operational Analysis and Enterprise and Skilled Communication Quarterly. A recipient of UWF’s School Excellence in Instructing Award, Dr. Williams additionally serves on the editorial board of INFORMS Transactions on Schooling and as 2nd Vice Chair of the INFORMS Committee on Instructing and Studying. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Programs Engineering from Georgia tech.
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