When it comes to designing courses and assigning grades, many students have grown accustomed to, and have developed a preference for, a mechanistic structure. For example, students want to know ahead of time what percentage they need to earn on exams and assignments to earn a particular letter grade, how much weight is given to each test and assignment, and which pages in the textbook they are responsible for. They also typically prefer objective multiple-choice questions to subjective essay questions. Imagine one of your instructors has asked you to redesign the course you are currently enrolled in to make it more closely resemble a sustainable organizational type.
1. Considering each of the factors in the organization design process, what would you suggest changing?
2. Which changes might be relatively easy to make and which might be difficult to make?
3. Which changes would students prefer and which might your instructors prefer? Why?