Learning in the open is not without risks, and so careful assignment design is necessary. This is where we can help!
Technical knowledge. It’s easy to get excited a launch into an assignment before you’re really ready. Give yourself time, ensure you can do and support the assignment, and talk to us about workshopping necessary technical skills with your students.
Copyright. Students have the same responsibilities as everyone else about what they can put online. Share information about copyright and creative commons with your students, and direct them to resources like Unsplash for copyright-free images.
Public learning, public responses. Students will need to be prepared to receive feedback, perhaps from people not as well-versed in gentle delivery as you. Build time into class to debrief, and consider enabling moderation strategies.
Hard work. These assignments are more cognitively demanding than a multiple choice exam, and they require more time and commitment. Ensure the reward is worth it for students, and work with them to develop an expected timeline for the project so they don’t underestimate what is expected.
Communicating why. Student buy-in is hard to achieve if they don’t understand why you’re asking them to do this weird assignment. Talk to them about what persuaded you to try teaching in the open.