At the end of every week I go over an academic progress assessment with each student privately. Keeping them on track helps to keep them organized and they are able to better their time management skills. When students are falling behind, they tend to not do so well on exams. This organization gets the students back on track and they have given lots of good feedback about the assessments.
Vicki,
Positive relationships with our students can do as much to help them as the instruction we are providing. I agree that when the student feels their instructor cares, they'll be way more interested during class and willing to comply with the expectations given by their (trusted) instructor. Plus, it's just plain old common courtesy and good customer service to do what we can, both instruction-wise and personal-wise, to assist our students when we can.
Barry Westling
It is important for a student to know how they are doing. It can help them to stay focused and gives you an opportunity to discuss areas in which they may need to improve, also to encourage and support the student in their efforts. I thinks it helps if they know their success matters to you and this is one way to show it.
Derrick,
I like to share information about grades and also offer my suggestion, encouargement and support. Students appreciate when they feel their teacher cares.
Barry Westling
It is important for them to be informed of their status aso they know what areas of the program they need to work on
Jennifer,
A weekly progress report is terrific. That should give plenty of time to make needed corrections and to affect the grade in a positive way.
Barry Westling
Students need to know where they stand in class at all times. They need to know when they need to step it up and it keeps them on their toes through out the class. I give my students a weekly progress report.
John,
This is a good point and suggests that regular and frequent information sharing is directly related to successful mastery of course content.
Barry Westling
A well informed student knows he or she is getting the opportunity to be successful in class. Sometimes studens will not due well because they lack previous knowledge of the subject. If the instructor keeps the student informed, the student will have the opportunity to build his or her knowledge of the subject.
Norman,
Right! Reasonable or not, that is an expectation adult learners have these days...instant everything. And to the degree they are our customers, we should accomodate them where possible. I always use the one on one time to also encourage, support, and offer advice and suggestions. Students appreciate when they feel their instructor cares.
Barry Westling
Brenda,
You're right. One of the hardest things for newer instructors is to learn to be fair to all. Good students with likeable personalities cannot get favorded treatment over less interested or students with unlikeable personalities. Offering assistance to all, giving suggestions and advice, and offering encouragement and support to all may take some getting used to, but it has to be that way for all.
Barry Westling
I have found out the student want instant grading of tests and projects. I have made a point of getting all tests graded before the next class and discuss with each student of their progress
It seems to work very well!
Norman McWhorter
Because students and instructors may have different ideas about how "status" translates in the course!
It is important to be accessible to students, and to be clear and unbiased from day 1.
Mid-term is too late to let a student know that there are issues that need to resolved. Pay attention to not just grades, but to behavior in the classroom/lab/clinical area.
Clear expectations and asking for feedback goes a long way in meeting goals.
Katherine,
Open communication means having a relationship with students that promotes trust and respect. This often comes fr4om the confidence and competence the instructor posseses. But it can also be nurtured through informal discussion and chatting about school matters, or even surface-level personal life, stuff that might suggesty the instructor is just taking an interest in the backsoide of the students life (such as "did you have a good weekend?" or "are you getting enough study time?"). These ramdom comment convey the instructor cares about the student and their success.
Barry Westling
I agree.You need to keep communication open throughout the course with the student progress for you and the student.
Brendon,
I really believe the more personal contact we have with students, the more trust and respect they will have for our role and assistance in meeting their needs. Even if grades need improving, if we are sincere and truely helpful, most students will be receptive to any advice and/or suggestions for improvement we may give.
Barry Westling
I believe it is important for the student to know where they stand. Their grade helps them to evaluate if they are putting in enough effort to study, as well as motivates them as they determine what it is going to take to achieve the grade they are striving for. It also demonstrates that you care about their efforts and that you are working just as hard as they are.
Chris,
Great! Students want to know how they're doing, even if the news is less than wonderful. But we can make the most of every discussion by being enthusiastic, upbeat, and by offering our support and encouragement. That, along with grade information should allow most students every opportunity to be successful.
Barry Westling
I use an Excel spreadsheet to record grades. I like to keep the grades up to date because my students want to know how they are doing. Also at the midpoint of each course (6 week courses) I provide an evaluation of their performance along with their current grade.
Chukwuka,
Very true! And regardless of why they need to know, ensuring they're up to speed with required material and course content is our goal. Sharing their progress towards that goal conveys we care about their success, and also gives us an opportunity to offer encouragement, support and advice.
Barry Westling
