The document describes a task for students to design their own icon to reduce verbal clutter on course pages. It provides criteria for the icon, including that the meaning must be obvious from the icon itself. A structured process is outlined, beginning with research on effective icon design and examples. Students then individually create an icon, receive peer critique, and finalize their design. Feedback on the task is solicited at the end.

1. PBL - learn by doing

2. Big idea: icons are everywhere in society.
From road signs to branding, they
communicate a lot of information in very little
time, in a single, simple picture.
learning can be enhanced through the use of
icons to communicate information and activity.

3. do/create/write/build
Design your own icon

4. the task
1. The task is to produce an icon that you can
use in your courses to reduce the verbal
clutter on a page
2. Marking criteria
a. the nature of the object that is the icon has to be
obvious
b. has to be a .jpg or .pdf file
c. has to look simple
d. the meaning of the icon has to be easily derived
from the icon

5. structure and timeline of activities
research
10 minutes - what makes a good icon?
user comprehension, design guidelines, insights on design
examples
10 minutes - browse www.thenounproject.com for
ideas
individual or
group activity 15 minutes - create - draw it - photo
critique
5 minutes - upload draft to shared
workspace: email to 8268810.8370@e.linoit.com
group activity
5 minutes - critique - say one nice thing and one
interesting, one surprise and one challenge
finalise your
icon 10 minutes - following the draft critique
finalise your icon

6. presentation and feedback
what instructions or resources might have made this a better task?
who loved it? who hated it?
who can empathise with students on their experience in this task?