How to use, Routine Assignments, Methodology

How would I use assignments as container-vehicles, ushering the chapters of college readiness, organizing a complicated process into phases

To illustrate this process, let’s take the example of an assignment for gathering letters of recommendation:

Conceptualizing Assignments as Vehicles

Think of assignments as vehicles rather than just tasks on a to-do list. This approach reduces the number of assignments and helps maintain organization and clarity. Consistency in formatting each assignment is essential, as it trains users to extract and manage information effectively. CounselMore’s curriculum breaks assignments into sections, and adopting this model can enhance your own assignments.

Example Assignment: Gathering Letters of Recommendation

1. Introduction: The assignment starts by explaining what letters of recommendation are.
2. Purpose: It then describes why these letters are important.
3. Process: Next, it explains how to request a letter.
4. Call to Action: Finally, it instructs the student to report all received letters to the counselor.

Steps for Execution:

1. Assignment Creation: The counselor assigns the task, sets the live date, and sends a summary email to the student.
2. Student Portal: The student receives the email, which includes a unique Student Portal link. Clicking this link takes them directly to their portal.
3. Assignment Review: On the portal’s first page, the student finds their list of assignments. Opening the assignment, they review the call to action. For this task, it directs them to a document in the counselor’s Google Drive folder that helps prepare their request for recommendation letters.
4. Completion: Once the student finishes writing their request, they mark the assignment as complete. The counselor receives a notification of completion.
5. Review and Feedback: The counselor reviews the assignment, makes notes, edits if necessary, and may attach additional materials. They then change the assignment status back to "undone" and resend it to the student with further instructions.

Handling Text Messages:

If the counselor receives a text from the student, such as “Mrs. Smith will not write my letter of recommendation,” it might be challenging to address immediately due to managing multiple students. To handle this efficiently:

1. Response: The counselor should acknowledge the message and promise to follow up.
2. Access Information: They should then log into CounselMore, navigate to the student's record, and open the assignment related to letters of recommendation. Since all relevant information is contained within this single assignment, the counselor can quickly review notes about Mrs. Smith and understand the situation.
3. Reply: The counselor can reply within the same assignment, ensuring that all resources and information are easily accessible without the need for redundant assignments or attachments.

Evaluating and Using Letters of Recommendation:

Later, when organizing applications in the App Tracker, the counselor can strategically assign recommendation letters based on each school's requirements. For instance, one application may require recommendations from specific types of teachers, while another may offer choices.

Summary of the Process:

The assignment for gathering letters of recommendation serves as a comprehensive container for all relevant information and resources related to this phase of college readiness. It includes routine information and links to essential resources, making it a central hub for managing and tracking progress efficiently.