RIT's General Education Assignment Library
The General Education Assignment Library contains samples of assignments created by RIT faculty to assess General Education Student Learning Outcomes. Assignments are collected and shared by the Office of Educational Effectiveness Assessment to support the teaching of General Education courses.
Thank you to the RIT faculty who gave permission to share their assignments and contribute to the General Education community of practice. As assignment design is an iterative process, many of the assignments posted will be revised and improved by faculty or replaced with newer assignments. Assignment authors are encouraged to submit revised materials.
Featured Assignments
Click here to view our featured assignments and read vignettes about how RIT faculty members developed relevant and engaging assignments that support student achievement of course objectives, including the General Education Student Learning Outcomes. The faculty share the reasons why they like these particular assignments and some of the lessons learned as they’ve modified and improved the assignments over time.
Browse the Library
This library allows RIT faculty to:
- Browse assignments by outcome, discipline, or method
- Review pedagogical and assessment guidelines by outcome
- View assignments that can be used to assess multiple outcomes
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning
Discipline: Humanities
Course: PHIL 202, Foundations of Moral Philosophy
Author(s): Dr. Colin Mathers
Method: Essay
The following problems, designed by a team of RIT faculty members, are samples that could be used to assess RIT’s General Education Student Learning Outcomes: Perform college-level mathematical operations or apply statistical techniques and Comprehend and evaluate mathematical or statistical information. The sample problems address fundamental constructs in RIT’s Applied Calculus course and align with the General Education Learning Outcomes. The fundamental constructs covered include limits, differentiation, and integration.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Perform college-level mathematical operations or apply statistical techniques, Comprehend and evaluate mathematical or statistical information
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Mathematical Literacy
Discipline: Formal Sciences
Course: MATH 161 Applied Calculus
Author(s): General Education Math Faculty Team
Method: Assignment Guidelines
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Analyze and construct arguments considering their premises, assumptions, contexts, and conclusions, and anticipating counterarguments, Revise and improve written products
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Integrative Literacies- Communication Literacy, Aesthetic Literacy
Discipline: Humanities
Course: ARTH 136 History of Western Art and Architecture II
Author(s): Dr. Sarah Thompson
Method: Essay
In groups of four, students will prepare and present an informative presentation about a business or engineering related topic.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Express oneself effectively in presentations, either in American English or American Sign Language
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Communication Literacy
Discipline: Humanities
Course: COMM 253 Communication
Author(s): Dr. Kari Cameron
Method: Presentation
Dr. Mark Baskin, a Political Science professor at RIT Kosovo, challenges his students by giving assignments that foster independent thinking and an ability to address complex global problems in a systematic manner.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Analyze and construct arguments considering their premises, assumptions, contexts, and conclusions, and anticipating counterarguments
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning, Global Interconnectedness
Discipline: Social Sciences
Course:
Author(s): Dr. Mark Baskin
Method: Assignment Guidelines
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles and concepts of one of the natural sciences
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Scientific Literacy
Discipline: Natural Sciences
Course: CHMG 142 General & Analytical Chemistry II
Author(s): Dr. Joe Lanzafame
Method: Exam Question
This assignment includes a sample of questions from a chemistry exam bank.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles and concepts of one of the natural sciences
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Scientific Literacy
Discipline: Natural Sciences
Course: CHMG 131 General Chemistry for Engineers
Author(s): Professor William Butler
Method: Exam Questions
In this essay, students produce their own analysis and interpretation of one or more of the comics that we’ve read in class
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Use relevant evidence gathered through accepted scholarly methods and properly acknowledge sources of information, Analyze and construct arguments considering their premises, assumptions, contexts, and conclusions, and anticipating counterarguments
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Integrative Literacies- Aesthetic Literacy
Discipline: Humanities
Course: CMDS 242 Comics: Image and Text in Popular Culture
Author(s): Dr. Daniel Worden
Method: Essay
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Examine connections among the world’s populations, Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the cultural context in which it was created
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Global Interconnectedness, Integrative Literacies- Aesthetic Literacy
Discipline: Humanities
Course: ARTH 135/136, Survey of Western Art and Architecture
Author(s): Dr. Sarah Thompson
Method: Exam Questions
Students think about the conflicting values and worldviews that underlay an ethical problem and examine possibilities for bringing together opposing sides through a focus on shared values.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions
RIT Educational Goal: Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking
Discipline: Social Sciences
Course: STSO 120, Introduction to Environmental Studies
Author(s): Dr. Christine Keiner
Method: Essay
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Contribute to the Library
We are always looking for exceptional General Education assignments! Contact the Office of EEA to:
- Submit an assignment used to assess a General Education Student Learning Outcome
- Request feedback or assistance on an assignment used to assess a General Education Student Learning Outcome
- Send a revised assignment to update the Assignment Library
New assignments are added to the library so regularly so check back soon. If you are looking for more assignment samples, the National Institute of Learning Outcomes Assessment maintains a robust Assignment Library.