Formulating a Targeted Educational Message

7. Guidelines for Designing an Effective Instructional Message

• • Use active verbs (explore, reflect, apply, explain, compare, create, evaluate).
    Active verbs clearly communicate what the student is expected to do.

  • Align the message with learning outcomes – make it clear what is expected and why.
    Explain why the task is important for the student’s learning and progress.

  • Avoid vague or ambiguous expressions (e.g., “something”, “maybe”, “in some way”).
    Unclear instructions increase cognitive load and create uncertainty for the student.

  • Encourage engagement – include a question, a challenge, an instruction to share or collaborate.
    Describe how the student should participate and what type of interaction is expected.

  • Maintain a professional but approachable tone – avoid overly formal or impersonal instructions.
    Include supportive statements that strengthen motivation and a sense of belonging.

  • Use examples – they help students relate instructions to a specific context.
    When possible, indicate the expected format and criteria of a high-quality result.

Checklist for Designing an Instructional Message