Are You Making Your Students Hoop Jump?

Telling a student to do something by a certain date and within certain parameters will surely result in a piece of work that meets the objectives but is likely uninspired. This is really just busy-work or as I like to call it: Hoop Jumping.

Instead of telling them to do this: "Write a report on Diabetes using three sources." "This is due in three days."; try asking them to do this: "Interview a person with Diabetes and describe for the class what you've found." "Compare and contrast this information to what you've read about the disease and create a made-up, but medically accurate, scenario based on the person you interviewed for your fellow classmates to review."

Which assignment seems more useful?

-Sherm