To the teacher, the steps between starting and finishing an assignment are fairly obvious. For the student, however, the strategies for working it through may not be so obvious.
Problems caused by hidden assumptions range from the simple to the profound.
Whether following the steps of an assignment or understanding a task's purpose, ambiguities can leave students guessing what to do. The following tips offer suggestions for clarifying essential elements in the learning process. The same is true for teaching. When asking for good work, explain what that means. A student must know how to go about the activity or assignment.