Low-stakes Assignments
Low-stakes assignments are designed to help students with opportunities to improve their skills and receive feedback without of an impact on their overall grade. These assignments need to be either a pass/fail or with minimal point values.
Why Use Low-Stakes Assignments?
Low-stakes assignments should be used to encourage students to learn topics without the stress of endangering their grades. These assessments need to include feedback for the students to be ready to take on the high-stakes assignments.
Examples
There are many different types of low-stakes assignments that can be incorporated into a course. Here are some examples:
- Quizzes: Short quizzes on the material covered in class can help students to review and reinforce their learning. These quizzes can be graded on a pass/fail basis, or with minimal point values.
- Writing exercises: Short writing exercises can help students to develop their writing skills and receive feedback on their work. These exercises can be structured around specific writing prompts or based on the course content.
- Discussion prompts: Discussion prompts can encourage students to engage with the course material and with their peers. These prompts can be based on readings, videos, or other course materials.
- Peer review exercises: Peer review exercises can help students to develop their critical thinking and feedback skills. These exercises can be structured around specific assignments or writing prompts.
Benefits
There are many benefits to incorporating low-stakes assignments into a course. Here are a few:
- Reduced stress: Low-stakes assignments can help to reduce stress and anxiety among students. When students are not constantly worried about their grades, they are more likely to take risks and experiment with new ideas.
- More engaged learning: Low-stakes assignments can encourage students to be more engaged with the course material. When students are not focused solely on grades, they are more likely to be interested in the learning process.
- Opportunities for feedback: Low-stakes assignments provide students with opportunities to receive feedback on their work. This feedback can help students to improve their skills and develop their understanding of the course material.
- Improved retention: Low-stakes assignments can help students to retain course material better. By practicing skills and reviewing material more frequently, students are more likely to remember what they have learned.