Dealing with students who fail to attend class regularly
How do you motivate students to simply show up for class on a regular basis?
I ask them to think about something that relates to our next topic that may be useful on the job.
Attendance and participation are worth 20% of the course grade at our school. I equate this to 20 points of their final grade. I explain the break down to them: attendance is taken every hour for the 5 hour class, therefore every 15 minutes is worth 0.4 points.
Even when this discourse doesn't work as an incentive for better attendance, it engages them in the course requirement learning activities by encouraging them to seek out information pertaining to extra credit exercises to offset their grade balance.
Hi Bruce,
It is! In accounting courses my students are terrified of missing a day. They fully understand that missing a day can cause them to possibly have to take the course over due to the difficulty of the course. This is a motivator to get them to attend.
Patricia
Christian,
I like to do the same thing, but I also add in how face paced the program is and that if they miss a day, it's like getting left behind. I find the anxiety of being left behind their peers is a great motivational tool.
Bruce
I try to be as clear as possible about why we are coving the toptc and why its important.
Hi Debbie,
I do many of the things that have been previously stated. I use a quiz that they cannot make up and bonus points for class interactions. In addition, in my syllabus I put in a statement that the class is incremental and each week builds on the knowledge from last week so if they miss a week, then they are missing knowledge that they will need in their chosen career. Finally, I tell them that I am here to help them succeed in their educational career and a big part of that is making sure that they are always in class.
Laureen
Hi Christin,
It is a challenge to deal with students who miss class regularly. I let these students know the importance of attendance at school and on the job. I express to them that they may be many sacrifices that come along with going to school, but in the end, it is definitely worth it.
Patricia
When a student does not come to class let them know that I have a life outside of school as well,but when they have dedicated themselves to the program & that the outside world will still be their after class. They owe it to themselves to have this time just for them & their education. Our class time is 5 hours a day-- I explaine to them that they have 19 hours to do whatever it is they have to- work, take care of children, sleep.....
& that they choose to learn & better themselves also I explain that missing a day will make the class seem more challenging because they missed the links from the days they missed- like a puzzle missing pieces to make the full picture.
Hi Jerome,
Attendance is extremely important in the workplace. Employers want employees to be at work. My institution has an attendance policy as well, and it is very well needed. The attendance policy is if you miss 8 hours and 1 minute of an 80-hour 5-week course, the student will have to repeat the course.
Patricia
My approach to attendance relates to employment. Not showing up to work, on time, every day brands you as unreliable. In the auto repair industry employers schedule work based on the number of technicians available each day/week. When a tech is late or does not show up work is delayed, resulting in an unhappy customer and loss of business for the employer. When the employer looses business he does not need as many technicians. The unreliable tech will be the first to loose their job.
Our school also has an attendance requirement policy. Miss 12 hrs and 1 minute of a 90 hr three week course and the student will time out and have to repeat the course.
Hi Bertram,
I agree. Your behavior at school is typical of the behavior you will have on the job. Employers are not going to tolerate habitual tardiness.
Patricia
I relate attending class regularly to showing up for work on a regular basis. The intent is to show them that if they do not show up for work or class they will not be compensated.
Hi Earl,
Part II is surely a way to motivate them to want to return. We have to give them a reason to want to come back the next day.
Patricia
Hi Hiram,
I like these practices. Great analogy with banking. Employers want employees with impeccable attendance. We must continue to preach the importance of good attendance.
Patricia
Hi Matthew,
You must spark curiosity. I like the cliffhanger idea to get them to want to come back the next day. Kind of like leave them hanging so that they can come back to hear Part II.
Patricia
That's a good idea. I'll try this out. A "cliffhanger" I can see would keep ther interest.
I also agree with Rosemary. If students don't think they have enough incentive to come back the next day, they won't. I also try to end class on a little bit of a "cliffhanger," like, "Next class, I'll show you a magic trick!" Students are intrigued and can't wait to come back!
Hi Rosemary,
I totally agree! It is amazing what enthusiasm does. Students need a reason to come back the next day. Let's keep them encouraged/motivated.
Patricia
Hi Debbie,
I always let them know what fun and exciting things we will be doing in class the next day and try to keep the classes fun and interesting. The students are then motivated to come back and are in the classroom on time ready to go.
I think if you motivate them from the first day of class it sets the stage for the entire quarter.
