Suggestions for use:


  • Require Cover Sheets Starting Week 1
    So students see them as normal part of course, rather than "experimental".


  • Give students a Handout with clear instructions


  • Talk briefly in class about these assignment (Week 1)
    Overview the motivation for these assignments -- including benefits for students.


  • Pass out particularly good cover sheets
    With the students' permission, share copies of particularly good cover sheets
    with the rest of the class -- cover sheets which model good writing, examples, etc.


  • Comment Gently
    So over the semester students can increasingly feel a "safe" environment in which
    to share their thoughts -- usually unpolished; sometimes just plain wrong.



    Some Observations:


  • Cover Sheets Improve During the Semester
    With feedback, praise and constructive criticism as appropriate, and a few short class
    discussions of what makes a good Cover Sheet, over the semester the cover sheets
    generally get more in-depth, more serious, introspective, and careful.


  • Generally Appreciated by Students

    In my mid-semester evaluations, students ranked them (along with group work, real-life
    examples, and instructor readiness to answer questions) at the very top of
    "what's working well in this class?" (in frequency of citations).