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: Demonstrate creative or innovative approaches to assignments or projects, Use relevant evidence gathered through accepted scholarly methods and properly acknowledge sources of information
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking
Discipline: Natural Sciences
Course: BIOL 475
Author(s): Dr. Kaitlin Stack Whitney
Method: Project
The goal of this assignment is for the class to keep up-to-date with events taking place in the U.S. this semester, to learn to critically reflect upon what is happening and understand the global impact, as well as hone your presentation skills.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Examine connections among the world’s populations, Express oneself effectively in presentations, either in American English or American Sign Language
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Communication Literacy, Global Interconnectedness
Discipline: Humanities
Course: ENGL 411, American Literature
Author(s): Professor Ana Maria Simundic
Method: Presentation
Students become Digital Volunteers for the Smithsonian and originally transcribe or review items from the museum's collections and transcribe the items using the digital files provided through the Smithsonian’s platform. The second part of the assignment asks students to write an informal response to this assignment that is based upon their experience and includes linkages to our course readings.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Demonstrate comprehension of information and ideas accessed through reading
RIT Educational Goal: Integrative Literacies- Communication Literacy
Discipline: Humanities
Course: MUSE 225 Museums and The Digital Age
Author(s): Dr. Juilee Decker
Method: Project
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions
RIT Educational Goal: Ethical Reasoning
Discipline: Social Sciences
Course: CRIM 110, Introduction to Criminal Justice
Author(s): Dr. Irshad Altheimer
Method: Essay
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: ENVS 150 Ecology of the Dalmation Coast
Author(s): Dr. Staša Puškarić
Method: Exam Questions
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Interpret and evaluate artistic expression considering the cultural context in which it was created
RIT Educational Goal:
Discipline: Humanities
Course: HIST 275, Screening the Trenches: The History of WWI Through Film
Author(s): Dr. Rebecca Scales
Method: Critique
The General Education Faculty Team for the Ethical Perspective developed a set of guidelines to help faculty align their course assignments to the university rubric. They also included samples of assignments.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions
RIT Educational Goal: Ethical Reasoning
Discipline: Interdisciplinary
Course:
Author(s): General Education Ethical Faculty Team
Method: Assignment Guidelines
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Analyze and construct arguments considering their premises, assumptions, contexts, and conclusions, and anticipating counterarguments
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Integrative Literacies- Scientific Literacy, Communication Literacy
Discipline: Natural Sciences
Course: BIOL 111, Science in the Garden
Author(s): Dr. Dawn Carter
Method: Debate
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 101, Human Communication
Author(s): Professor Elizabeth Reeves O'Connor
Method: Presentation
This assignment asks students to critically reflect on the ethics of their role in an in-class simulation. We simulate the 1999 crisis in Kosovo, especially the months leading up to the NATO decision to begin airstrikes over Kosovo aimed at preventing the wider spread of ethnic cleansing by Serbian forces of the Kosovar Albanian population.
Assignment File: Download Assignment
Outcome: Identify contemporary ethical questions and relevant positions
RIT Educational Goal: Critical Thinking, Ethical Reasoning, Global Interconnectedness
Discipline: Social Sciences
Course: POLS 205, Ethics in International Politics
Author(s): Dr. Benjamin Banta
Method: Simulation and Reflection Essay
Pages
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.