I feel like it's fine line between teaching and babysitting sometimes. I know as teachers we like to set a standard for each of our classes and then have set guidlines to uphold those standards. But every new class brings new people and sometimes unique situations that come along with those new people. I really try to uphold a standard with due dates, homework, projects, etc. But I due find myself time to time making exceptions and bending my own rules to help students be able to get what they need out of the class. At that point are we babysitting or just trying to do our best with all our students.
Lance,
Good strategy to follow. These students are not in high school they are in college and have chosen to prepare themselves for a career. You are right in that by holding them accountable you are helping them to be successful in the long run. Yes, things do come up in life that need to be considered but they can be handled on a student by student basis. They need to develop self discipline if they are going to be successful.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
James,
I tried that this quarter and it worked really well. I had students who were half hearted in their attempts to perform well change their tunes rather quickly when they saw the detrimental affects the zeros were having on their scores.
Thanks for sharing.
I agree that a certain amount of slack can be given. However, I will draw the line as suggested since holding them accountable for deadlines will only benefit them in the long run. As life can have it's bumps in the road, (like illness, children or themselves)I will empathize, it's just when there are too many that I will stop.
James,
Thank you for this perspective on student performance. With many students feeling they are entitled to receive an A since they have paid tuition it becomes imperative that instructors keep the standards of their field in place. We are preparing individuals to enter their field and to do so we need to use the standards of the field so when they graduate they have the knowledge and skills needed for career success. This is serious business and they need to understand that when they miss class, come late, don't complete assignments, etc.. They chose to come to college and they need to do the work required in order to prepare themselves for the next step in their lives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Agreed. Babysitting encourages students to push the limit and see what they can get away with. It is important to have students complete all of the work. I mark any missing work as a zero with the understanding that they can make the work up on their own schedule and I will update the grade when the work is submitted. Having visibility to a low grade due to missing work is a good motivator and the students will complete their missing work by mid-term and by the final class. If I leave the missing assignment grades blank, they do not reflect in the students average, allowing the students to stay complacent.
David,
So true. Demonstrations and practice sessions help to build the needed skills but at some point they are going to have to step forward and start doing things for themselves. If they don't they are going to have a tough time when they are out in the workplace because that will be the expectation of their employer.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree and you dont mind showing someone how to do something but eventualy they need to show a little gumption and learn to do it themselves.
Jose,
You make a very good point because most of us tend to be a bit soft on parts of our courses and requirements. I am like you in that I will give students the benefit of the doubt as well as some time slack when needed. Then I stop and reflect on the fact that I am training these students to be professionals in their field so I force myself to stick to my homework and/or project requirements. In the real world they will not be given slack because they just didn't have time. They will have to meet deadlines or they won't be employed very long. We need to keep that in mind as we work with our students and their career development.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
