Assignment brief check
Before you start the assignment: whether the brief, and what good work looks like, are clear to you.
Worth a look
- The first 20 hours: how to learn anythingJosh Kaufman, TEDxCSUYou don't need 10,000 hours to get decent at something. About 20 focused ones, and he learns the ukulele on stage to prove it. (opens in a new tab)
- The Expert MythVeritasiumThe four things real expertise needs, including fast feedback and practice just past your comfort zone. A good test for any course you just took. (opens in a new tab)
- Brain Hack: 6 secrets to learning faster, backed by neuroscienceLila Landowski, TEDxHobartA neuroscientist's six habits that help new things stick, most of which cost nothing. (opens in a new tab)
- Learning how to learnBarbara Oakley, TEDxOaklandUniversityAn engineering professor who flunked maths as a kid on focused versus wandering thinking, and why stepping away is part of learning. (opens in a new tab)
- Learning How to Learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjectsBarbara Oakley & Terrence Sejnowski, CourseraThe free course behind that talk: short lessons on memory, procrastination and practice. (opens in a new tab)
More (2)
- How to get better at the things you care aboutEduardo Briceño, TEDWhy working hard isn't the same as getting better: the learning zone versus the performance zone. (opens in a new tab)
- Keep your goals to yourselfDerek Sivers, TEDThree minutes on why announcing a plan can feel so good you never do it. Worth knowing before you tell anyone your next step. (opens in a new tab)
The conviction read: nobody puts a hand up to say the brief makes no sense. A slow, hedged agree on 'what a strong piece of work would look like' says some may be guessing, before the guessing turns up in the work handed in.
What's in the template
- I understand what this assignment is asking me to do. puck
- I know what a strong piece of work would look like. puck
- I can see how my work will be judged. puck
- The deadline gives me enough time to do it well. puck
- I know where to turn if the brief stops making sense. puck
- I feel confident I can do this assignment well. puck
Questions about this template
When should learners get it?
Right after you hand out the brief, while there is still time to clear things up. If answers split on what strong work looks like, showing an example in the next session costs less than fixing it after the deadline.
Can I put the assignment title in it?
Yes. Your copy is a draft you can edit, so add the assignment title to the survey name, the intro screen or any statement before you share the link.
Which learners is it written for?
Learners aged sixteen and over, such as college, university, adult education or training groups. It is not meant for school pupils younger than that.