This is a very important area with career schools. The biggest hit that the facility I work in takes on student satisfaction surveys revolves around the having work returned to them promptly and instructor feedback. If students do not know their progress they may not know where they need to focus harder.
I agree, this way the student always knows where they stand and will know at the end what to expect on their final grade.
Students need to be informed of their grades by or before midterm in order to give them an idea of their progress in the course. Many students make the mistake of not handing in assignments throughout the course, and are then surprised when their grades are extremely low. They then want to make up the missing work, and suddenly want to morph into "good academics."
By anticipating this scenario, you can head it off by keeping the students informed of their grades, not only catching students who are falling through the academic loopholes, but also give encouragement and praise to those who are acting like "scholars."
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Nancy Lorenz-Vega
Concorde Career College
so that students know how they are doing in class. if they are not doing so well, it gives them a chance to do better and for those who want to have that 4.0 average, it lets them keep track of their status.
It is important to update students of their status in a course in order to eliminate any inadvertent misconceptions about progress. This should be done on an assignment-by-assignment basis as well as "big picture". This helps the students to know whether or not they are on track to achieve their goals.
Hi Tracey:
I agree that frequent and personal course update discussion are important. It takes time for students to make corrections so if this occurs too late in the term, it may not have the best effect in improving a grade.
Regards, Barry
So they are not shocked at the end of the semester. They need to know where they are on a continuous basis to remain motivated or see where they need assistance.
Hi Hanna:
I like frequent and personal progress reports to students. If they're not frequent enough, there may not be enough time for the student to make needed corrections. As for personal, I like to show I care and am interested in their success by giving encouragement and support along with my advice and suggestions.
Regards, Barry
Hi Gregory:
For me, frequent and personal status reports work best. I want to provide "early intervention", and give the student a chance to make corrections, and have it reflected in their grade. I also like to encourage, show I am interested in their learning, listen to their needs, and offer sound advice and suggestions for making improvements.
Regards, Barry
Hi John:
Mid term is ok, but I say more frequent and personal will be better. That gives us a chance to show we care with encouragement and support, along with advice and suggestions for improvement. We have to remember correction takes time: too late in the course may be too late for much correction.
Regards, Barry
Hi Arthur:
Good. Reducing angst is always a good thing. I think frequent and in-person sharing of grades and course status is important. We can also use this time to show we care by listening, giving support and encouragement along with advice and suggestions for imporvement.
Students need time for corrective strategies to take effect, so waiting until too late in the term won't help much.
Regards, Barry
This is only fair thin to do as it gives the student ongoing feedback so that he can get extra help in those areas that he may not be doing well in. It also gives the instructor a chance to clarify any concerns the student might have with the class.
Some students are very concerned with their grades and get very nervous when they don't know where they stand in the class. Others want to make sure that they keep their average up and would like to know what they have to get on the next test or assignment to do so.
First, if you can't answer the student's question about his/her status in the course, it shows you as unorganized and may prompt the student to question and challenge your grading. Second, it motivates students to want to do better. Third, if they know their status (and can easily find out what their status is), it reduces their stress and yours as well. Students are less likely to question your grading system.
Our procedure is to have midterm advising, most instructors advise three times and watch for student performance drop offs.
Hi Paul:
When students feel their teacher care about their success, they're more likely to be motivated to trey or try harder. We can be patient, caring, while offering advice along with encouragement and support. This will be remembered as memorable and meaningful counsel.
Regards, Barry
I find that by keeping students informed of their status in a timely manner, the students stay engaged in the course and are not as anxious about the course. I find that most of the time students are harder and more critical of themselves, than I as an instructor is. More times than not students are more surprised that they did as well as they did. I do not want them to be anxious about there progress, that takes concentration away from learning. That is why I have tests graded by the next class session. I always go over assessments privately with the students, again to cut down on any anxiety with the student.
Students need to be informed of their status to keep them motivated. Without motivation to continue their excellent scores or to improve their unsatisfactory grades, they remain stagnant and do not know how to proceed in the course. Therefore, the course, in my opinion, becomes meaningless to the students.
Hi Christine:
Frequent grade sharing is important.I think this also gives us the opportunity to give advice and suggestions for improvement. Also, reinforcing the relationship with encouargement, support and demonstrating care and concern while talking about grades.
Regards, Barry
Hi Robert:
We can also use the time to encourage, offer support, and caring comments, suggestions, and advice. Students will appreciate it.
Regards, Barry
