Hi Kathleen,
Class calendars are super! They are sure way to help keep the students on target.
Patricia
Course requirements are outlined on day 1 in the syllabus, as well as additional material given that day. I like the class calendar to give complete information on due dates for assignments, tests, etc.
To make course requirements clear for students, I provide them with an extensive oral explanation of my syllabus, Individual Instructor's Policies, rubrics and project guidelines. I also incorporate homework assignments for each class and explain them orally. At the beginning of each course I also ask each student to introduce themselves and give short-term goals as a student and long-term goals as a professional that they will be working towards and how the course I teach (Cultural Diversity) fits into these. I also make them sign an "Acknowledgement" that course requirements/expectations have been gone over, that they have read these documents and understand the assignments and requirements they must meet to pass the course.
Hi Carolina,
Course requirements discussed leave no gray areas. Students need to know on Day 1 exactly what is expected of them.
Patricia
Hi Gloria,
Please resend them when you get a chance. I want to respond to them.
Patricia
Hi Sarah,
The syllabus is definitely a great tool to refer to. I direct my students back to their syllabus all the time.
Patricia
Hi Carolina,
I normally play Jeopardy in a lot of my classes, such as Windows XP, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Keyboard, etc. Jeopary is a game that will work for any subject matter.
Patricia
I like that you role play and ask the questions yourself. It sounds like a great way to overcome the shyness of some students, especially on the first day of class.
What kind of game do you have them play, and if you don't mind, what is the subject matter of the class? My students would really love some kind of game (I teach at a game design college).
It must be very helpful for the students to be able to see which areas of the class are weighed more heavily for grades.
Unfortunately, the class I'm currently teaching (only two weeks left) is a new class for me to teach, so I've had to make some adjustments along the way. The students have not complained, which is good, but it wouldn't surprise me if they resented the moving goal posts.
Refer the students to their coarse syllibus, so they can visually see and for future refference for any inquiries they may have they know that it is there at their disposal along with my reasurance.
The class sylabus is my main guide. The I always open up with a game.
I placed two replies on the forum. Please take a look and respond when you get an opportunity. Thanks
Gloria F. Martin
Yes, I agree. I don't think you can ever be too reminding. I post upcoming quizzes and exam dates on the board in the class room and continually remind the students verbally that they need to study for them.
A explanation of how the lab and lecture grades are broken is delivered to the students on the first day. I explain that there will be a daily lab assignment that will be worth 100 points and when averaged together will account for 10% of their GPA. The lecture grade is broken down into homework, tests, quizzes, midterm, and final, each representing 10%, 30%, 30%, 10%, and 10% of the GPA collectively. Students then know that they should give 100% toward all areas but 110% toward the higher percentages.
Sometimes after discussing the requirements I ask are there any questions. If there are no questions, I put myself in third person and ask myself the questions and then answer them.
I put course requirements in the syllabus, and discuss them in the first session of class.
Hi Laura,
It appears you do a fine job with making course requirements clear. Great work!
Patricia
Hi Casey,
Great! You students see exactly what you are working to accomplish! I like the idea of a review at the end.
Patricia
I agree that you cannot remind them too much, but I think multiple written and verbal should do the job. I think that missing out on turning in an assignment and learning about the consequences of their inaction is a good lesson as well.
