Since I don't have a course that I teach but workshops, I typically write the goals of the day on the board for students to view and end the session with reviewing how we accomplished these goals.
Hi Alexis,
Organization is key! I give my students a time frame as to how long assignments/projects will take, as you have mentioned so that there are no surprises.
Patricia
Give a syllabus on the first day and go over each section. Answer any questions. Remind students daily about upcoming activites.
At the beginning of each module a syllabus is given out to every student. Each line and paragraph is gone over with time for students to ask questions on what they might not understand. Grading scales and attendance are discussed so they know how much participation play a role in their grades.
As a chef instrutor we involve ourselve with plenty of manual activities. With the experience I have obtained as an instructor I have developed a precise timeline on how long it will take for each activity that needs to be performed. I present my students with clear expectation and guidelines so they may have an understanding on how long it will take to complete all task. The students know head-on how they will be challenged and nothing will come as a surprise. They are given everything from assignment dues date and when test and quizess will be given. This helps the class to be systematic and organized.
Hi Alicia,
I think it is only fair and professional to remind students of assignments, after all they are professionals in training.
Patricia
I like the idea of the rubic given before and assignment and then filled out when the assignemtn is graded for the student to see. That way, they can see clearly that their grade is objective, not subjective, and based on "rules" that apply to all across the board.
I'm fortunate in that the medical career college where I teach has a set formula for grading, with certain percentage being attendance, a percentage being professionalism, a percentage being assignments done and on time, and a percentage being test scores. They know up front what is expected and how all affect their final grade.
Well said, David, we are not in this for the money but for the gratification that comes with changing lives. On those "rocky days," it's good to remind ourselves of why we are in the teaching profession.
I also give a syllalbus and course schedule up front so there are no misunderstandings. Because we know not everyone will read it carefully, I go over it with the whole class the first night. I often refer to the syllabus and schedule throughout the course so the students know the information is firm (though I, too, will allow for wiggle room when unexpected things come up).
I teach nursing students, so they generally are quite motivated. There are always the few in every class, however, that need to discover that it is time to get serious. Not that we can't still have some fun.
I try to make the requirements clear on the first day and put due dates in the syllabus, but still have students ask about requirements and seem "surprised" when a deadline comes. I don't think you can remind them too much.
Hello,
Go over the syllabus and course expectations with all students. Remind students of deadlines and projects weekly. Being an online student for many years, all of my professors sent weekly emails regarding deadlines and this was extremely helpful.
Hi David,
Our focus is certainly the students. When we thought about going into this profession, we knew we would never get rich from it. The gratitude comes from changing one life at a time! Money is definitely not the motivator when it comes to teaching.
Patricia
I write on the board the lab project that has been given out and is expected to return and answer to questions consistantly.
Carol- This can be frustrating and even disheartening but also remains an administrative issue. It is admin's responsibility to keep the faculty team aimed toward the same mission philosophy while still encouraging the individual styles of individual instructors. As instructors we cannot be distracted from our focus on our students- they are the reason we accept so little pay for so much work and can still derive joy from our jobs.
I go over my syllabus with the students but my concern is that there are 5 other instructors teaching the same course ( evenings, weekend courses). Although we have the same objectives, I am not sure that we are all on the same page as far as emphasis of each objective (its relative importance with job performance). It is also very difficult to get us all together to unify our methods. Is it just okay that we all meet the syllabus requirements and not have the same opinion that some objectives are more relative than others?
I try to explain to my students how the grading rubix works. How been absent, showing up on time, completing work by the stipulated deadlines and the quality of the work all work together to a final grade.
Some students beleive that been absent is no big deal, I make sure they understand how each individual day plays a part in the final grade, and I try to be very specific when I talk about make-ups, even when my students complete make-up days, their grade value can only substittute 50% of the points of the day being make-up.
It is important of being very specific when it comes to the grading criteria, because students will argue when they don't like their final grade, which by the way it was them who earned it.
Hi Pamela,
It is very important to go over the syllabus on Day 1 so that students know exactly what to expect.
Patricia
I plan to have them highlight the important areas of the course requirments and will reiterate them as needed.
