Best Practices for Assignment Design

Structural Organization

• Start with clear, comprehensive instructions in read-only markdown cells.
• Organize content logically, progressing from simpler to more complex tasks.
• Separate distinct problems or tasks into clearly delineated sections.
• End with submission instructions and reminders about academic integrity.

Test Design Principles

• Include comprehensive test coverage: normal cases, edge cases, and error conditions.
• Balance visible tests (for learning) with hidden tests (for rigorous assessment).
• Provide informative error messages in test assertions.
• Ensure tests are independent to avoid cascading failures.

Point Allocation Strategy

• Align points with learning objectives and assessment priorities.
• Communicate point values clearly to students.
• Ensure total points match course grading policies.
• Use partial credit to reward incremental learning.

Content Protection

• Lock all cells containing starter code, utility functions, or grading logic.
• Protect problem statements, instructions, and test implementations from modification.
• Clearly distinguish editable solution cells from protected content.