Activity: creating examination/assignment instructions

What makes good examination/assignment instructions? This extract from Forsyth (2022) summarises the key requirements:

A table with two columns including the following text: Table 5.1 Key information for an assignment brief Weighting of the task, as a percentage of the total credits for the module. If the module has more than one task, then say what percentage of the module assessment this task represents. Module learning outcomes which are covered by the task. For a module with a single task, this will be all of them, but if the module has more than one task, then you should indicate which learning outcomes are covered. Assessment Mmethod This would be a one- or two- word description of the task (such as essay, examination, presentation). Submission size This should provide an indication of the size of the submission you expect from students, such as a 2,000- word essay or a 10- minute presentation. Timing When the assignment(s) will be submitted during the module. Description A short explanation of what students are expected to do, including the expected size of the assignment task and any particular requirements, e.g. group work, special submission techniques or specialist resources needed. A peer reviewer or a student should have a clear sense of what is expected from reading this description. Feedback strategy Outline what kind of feedback you will provide, and what you expect students to do with it. Formative support Explain what support is available to students as they prepare their assignments. This could be specific tasks which will help them prepare, information about your availability to students, and/or signposting to university services.

Now that you have thought about the use of GenAI in your examinations, designed your marking rubric, and thought about a feedback plan, you can revise your own task instructions, or review the existing ones.   

As usual, you can choose a GenAI tool to try this with, such as one those listed on this page.. Then write a prompt something like this, depending on what you want to do: 

Create a new plan

"I am a university teacher leading a course for XX (number of students) Bachelors/Masters students in XXX (subject). The examination task is for the students to XXX (describe what they will do, briefly). I am expecting a submission of XXX words to be submitted by XX/XX/XX via Canvas. A good examination/assignment plan has information for students about these elements: the weighting of the task, as a percentage of the total credits for the module, the course learning outcomes which are covered by the task, assessment method, submission size, timing, task description, marking rubric, feedback strategy, and formative support. Please create an examination brief/information which is suitable for students at this level, telling me what information you still need me to add."

Review an existing plan

"I am a university teacher leading a course for XX (number of students) Bachelors/Masters students in XXX (subject). The examination task is for the students to XXX (describe what they will do, briefly). The examination task is for the students to XXX. I am expecting a submission of XXX words to be submitted by XX/XX/XX via Canvas. A good examination/assignment plan has information for students about these elements: the weighting of the task, as a percentage of the total credits for the module, the course learning outcomes which are covered by the task, assessment method, submission size, timing, task description, marking rubric, feedback strategy, and formative support. My existing examination/assignment plan is pasted in underneath this information. Please review it for readability for this group of students, and suggest additions for any missing information." Then paste in your current information into the same prompt, or upload a file if this is possible in the tool you chose. 

briefcase to represent a portfolioBonus: add to your teaching portfolio. Did you get useful outputs? How did you judge them? Would you use this plan? What can you do better than GenAI in this scenario?