Using Cover Sheets: Some Suggestions
- Assign cover sheet starting Week 1, so students see
them as normal part of course, rather than "experimental".
- Give students a handout with clear instructions (See
URLs in contributed paper)
- Talk briefly in class about these assignments during the
first few weeks. Remind students of the motivating purposes for cover
sheets, and the benefits for students.
- Share samples of the best cover sheets --
-- those which model good writing, examples,
thoughtful questions, labeled graphs, etc.
- Comment gently (not indulgingly), especially at
first. Cover sheets as "safe environment" to share imperfect
thoughts
Avoiding Potential Difficulties
- Avoid lengthy private dialogues or "lectures"
- Initially students need several reminders to be
specific.
"Don't just tell me you 'finally understand X!'
-- spell out specifically what you know. The same goes for 'I don't
understand Y' Each week, give a summary of specific concepts you
learned. And include full
examples"