Overcoming the 'Busywork' Dilemma: Creating Meaningful Asynchronous Activities

The busywork dilemma is where students perceive that assigned learning activities or assessments are not meaningfully contributing to their learning. This can be very frustrating to instructors as they often put a lot of effort and time into the design and implementation of these activities. This dilemma can be magnified in online and hybrid classes when students are held accountable for learning activities in new ways. While students’ reasons for calling intentional learning activities busywork vary and some are embedded in misconceptions of learning there are some common pitfalls to avoid. In this Conversation on Teaching, two faculty members shared their approach for designing asynchronous assignments and how they engage with students meaningful. They will also share their successes and challenges. Panelists: Marshall Eakin, Professor of History and Abby Parish, Associate Professor in The School of Nursing Facilitator: Julaine Fowlin, Assistant Director, CFT