Easing the Paperwork Load
New Approaches to College Paperwork
Who Should Do the Work of Learning?
In traditional classrooms...
...many instructors work hard making corrections to student work that is incomplete or incorrect.
Meanwhile...
...some students submit incomplete or incorrect work, confident the instructor will find and fix the problems.
The results...
..are disastrous
Instructor:
• Overwork
• Exhaustion
• Frustration
• Victimization
• Burnout
Student:
• Passivity
• Helplessness
• Dependence
• Minimal effort
• Low motivation
How Can We Give Responsibility Back to Students?
A New Approach...
...Based on Accountability
• Instructors create structure and put standards in writing
• Students practice and master skills before tackling an assignment
• Students check and certify completed assignments
• Instructors accept only students’ best efforts
1. Instructors create structure and put standards into writing
• Describe in writing what you look for in assignments and class activities
• Structure assignments clearly
• Break complex tasks into small, checkable steps
2. Students practice and master skills before tackling an
assignment
• During class, have students practice the steps in a complex task
• After students have mastered a skill, have them teach it to others
• Have groups provide help and feedback
3. Students check and certify completed assignments
• Hand out a detailed checklist for students to submit with each assignment
• Have students highlight important components (such as the thesis and topic sentences in an essay) before submitting work
• Set specific guidelines for group editing and revising
4. Instructors accept only work that represents students’ best efforts
• Spot-check work as soon as it is submitted• Scan students’ completed checklists to
determine which work you will accept for grading
• Immediately hand back work that doesn’t meet requirements
• Announce that work you’ve handed back will receive an automatic grade deduction
The Result...
Students who...
• Work cooperatively with the instructor and one another
• Tackle problems proactively
• Hold themselves accountable for their success
And...
• Keep track of assignments and requirements
• Check work carefully before submitting it
• Produce quality work
Instructors who...
• Accept only high-quality work from students
• Can’t be manipulated into doing students’ work for them
And...
• Experience higher levels of energy and enthusiasm from teaching
• Have fewer error-ridden papers to process
The Old Paradigm
Overworked instructors at risk for burnout
The Old Paradigm
Some students are too passive and dependent to produce quality work
The New Paradigm
Shared effort...
The New Paradigm
...and a briefcase full of high-quality student work
