Basically, don't auto-load the list of assignments and give them fun facts about the stuff they need to get done ("You have two assignments due tomorrow", "You have two major projects due within 7 days", etc)
this is probably gonna be the most design-heavy of the remaining features. may focus on this later on as the current default display works fairly well for the time being.
With a panel like 'What to do today'
Basically, don't auto-load the list of assignments and give them fun facts about the stuff they need to get done ("You have two assignments due tomorrow", "You have two major projects due within 7 days", etc)