Tilt Framework

TILT (Transparency in Learning and Teaching) is a framework for approaching course design and instruction to help reveal the "hidden curriculum" so that students are more likely to learn from our courses and succeed in our programs. "Transparent teaching methods help students understand how and why they are learning course content in particular ways." There are several key practices in the TILT framework that provide guidance on how to TILT your instruction; that list includes:

Discuss assignments' learning goals and design rationale before students begin each assignment
Explicitly connect "how people learn" data with course activities, especially when students struggle at difficult transition points
Engage students in applying the grading criteria that you'll use on their work (through peer reviews, self critiques, and/or sample submissions)
Debrief graded tests and assignments in class
Offer running commentary on class discussions to indicate what modes of thought or disciplinary methods are in use

To see the full list, along with detailed explanations on each practice and how to implement it, visit the TILT Higher Ed webpage.

The 3 Questions

The first one in the list above is the practice that is most commonly highlighted, in part because it is clear and practical. It is a method of designing and delivering assignments that has also been called The 3 Questions (Why, What, and How).

The goal is to clearly articulate three main things on every assignment:

Purpose (Why) -- Identify the learning benefits to students (what specific skills will this assignment help them practice? what real-world tasks will they be able to do with these skills?)
Task (What) -- Describe in detail the specific steps students must take to complete the assignment. Be sure this description is written for the novice in your discipline, not the master!
Criteria (How) -- Provide grading criteria (such as a rubric) in advance so students know what success looks like. Offer examples of high quality work, and include comments that show how the examples met the criteria for success.

The TILT Higher Ed webpage, which has several examples of TILTed assignments in a variety of disciplines, a template to help you structure your assignment instructions, and even a checklist to keep you on track.