3.3: Clear Instructions

Criterion Overview

Clear assignment instructions help students understand what they are expected to do, why they are completing the activity, and how their work will be evaluated. Every assignment, discussion, quiz, and learning activity should provide enough information for students to successfully complete the task without unnecessary confusion or guesswork.

Well-designed instructions guide students through the learning process by explaining the purpose of the activity, outlining the required steps, identifying submission requirements, and communicating how success will be measured. Rather than assuming students know how to complete an assignment, effective instructions anticipate common questions and provide the guidance students need before they begin their work.

Although every learning activity is different, using a consistent instructional format throughout the course helps students quickly locate important information, understand expectations, and confidently complete course requirements.

Why It Matters

Students should spend their time engaging with course concepts—not trying to interpret assignment directions. Unclear or incomplete instructions often lead to unnecessary questions, incorrect submissions, missed requirements, and student frustration. Clear expectations reduce unnecessary cognitive load and allow students to focus on demonstrating their learning.

Assignments should answer the questions students naturally ask before beginning their work:

• What am I supposed to do?
• Why am I doing it?
• How do I complete it?
• How do I submit it?
• How will it be graded?

Providing consistent instructions throughout the course also promotes student independence. When assignments follow a familiar organizational structure, students spend less time searching for information and more time engaging with the learning activity.

What This Looks Like

Assignment instructions consistently provide the information students need to successfully complete each activity.

Reviewers should expect to see:

• A clear description of the activity.
• The purpose or learning objective for the assignment.
• Step-by-step directions for completing the task.
• Submission instructions.
• Due dates and availability dates when appropriate.
• Required file formats or technology expectations.
• Grading criteria or an attached rubric.
• Links to supporting resources, examples, or tutorials when appropriate.

Students can determine what to do, how to complete the activity, and how it will be evaluated without requiring additional clarification.

Design Tips

Ask yourself: If I were taking this course for the first time, would I know exactly what to do, how to do it, how to submit it, and how my work will be evaluated without asking the instructor for clarification?

✔ Begin every assignment with a brief explanation of its purpose.

✔ Explain how the assignment supports the course or module learning objectives.

✔ Break complex tasks into clear, sequential steps.

✔ Clearly identify how students should submit their work.

✔ Attach or link the grading rubric whenever possible.

✔ Include examples, templates, or models for more complex assignments.

✔ Use a consistent organizational format for every assignment throughout the course.

✔ Review assignment directions from a student's perspective before publishing to ensure no important information has been assumed or omitted.