Consultation Worksheets
If your instructor has required or is giving extra credit for a consultation, follow these instructions to get credit:
- Before your consultation:
- Download and/or print the DesignLab Consultation Worksheet.
- Fill out the top and middle sections (this is a fillable PDF***).
- During your consultation:
- Bring your printed worksheet to your consultation or have it available on your computer for note-taking.
- At the end of your consultation:
- In-Person Appointments: Ask the DesignLab consultant to stamp your worksheet.
- Virtual Appointments: Upload the post-consultation confirmation email to the Consultation Worksheet. (Post-consultation confirmation emails are sent shortly after the scheduled consultation ends.)
- After your Consultation:
- Submit your completed Consultation Worksheet to your instructor via their preferred method.
***We recommend using Adobe Acrobat rather than using your browser or other PDF viewers to fill out your Consultation Worksheet.
Q: What if I forgot my worksheet?
A: No problem! You can always fill out the PDF version and submit it digitally. If you want/need the physical stamp, just come by College Library when DesignLab is open and we’ll stamp it.
Q: Why do I need to fill out the top and middle of the worksheet before my appointment?
A: The top part is helpful so we can see your assignment information. Then, the middle part of the worksheet prompts you to reflect on your design and what questions you might have for the DesignLab consultant.
Q: How do I fill out the PDF version? It won’t let me add the screenshot of the confirmation email.
A: Try using Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. Some browser plugins don’t allow for image uploads. If on a Mac, you can also use Preview.
Q: Do I have to make an appointment? Can’t I just email you my project to get feedback?
A: Unfortunately, no. So much of design is collaborative, asking questions about choices and then giving suggestions. If you’re struggling to find a time to meet and your consultation is required for a course, please email us; we’ll do our best to work with your schedule.
Q: What is the deadline for making my consultation?
A: That is up to your instructor. If they did not give you a deadline, we recommend scheduling an appointment for a few days before your assignment is due. That way, you have time to make the recommended changes and/or do more research. Please note that DesignLab is not open on the weekends, during breaks, or over the summer. We close after the last day of classes and do not reopen until the first day of classes the following semester.
Q: Where do I submit the completed form?
A: Ask your instructor! They should have provided you with instructions.
As a learning support service, DesignLab requires students to self-disclose whether they have consulted with us; we cannot share that information with instructors because it violates FERPA laws. We have developed a system to help students consistently provide proof of a consultation to their instructors across all courses. Students should fill out the Consultation Worksheet and follow the instructions on this page to receive proof of their consultation from a DesignLab staff member.
What Instructors Need To Do:
- Explain to your students that they should not bring a blank worksheet to the consultation. They must complete the top and middle sections of the Consultation Worksheet before their consultation and bring it with them.
- Set the deadline for required and extra-credit consultations. Set the deadline for required and extra-credit consultations for at least 3 days before the assignment due date, so students have time to make DesignLab-suggested changes after their consultation.
- Be sure students understand that they need either a DesignLab stamp* or a copy of their post-consultation confirmation email. Post-consultation emails are automatically sent after every appointment that is not canceled (Email Subject: Student Name – DesignLab Consultation Confirmation). *Stamps are not available at all locations, so the post-consultation email is the best way to confirm an appointment. Some consultants may sign the sheets instead.
- Provide clear instructions to your students regarding how to submit the completed form to you. (i.e., via Canvas, email, physical copy, etc.).
- If you have not already discussed this with a DesignLab staff member, please notify DesignLab if you are giving extra credit or requiring a consultation appointment with DesignLab as part of a course assignment.
Please email Mandy (mandy@designlab.wisc.edu) with the course name, number of students, and assignment details. We need to know so we can prepare our staff.
DesignLab Policy for Required or Extra Credit Appointments
If instructors are considering offering extra credit or requiring a DesignLab consultation as part of a course assignment, it is important that DesignLab staff know so we can plan for the influx of students. If you wish to include a DesignLab consultation as part of your course/assignment, please reach out to Mandy (mandy@designlab.wisc.edu) before the course or assignment work begins so we can make sure you and your students get the most out of DesignLab services.