Late Assignment
once we set out classroom environment we also set up rules and regulations. in order to be fair for all of our students we have to very carefull about late assignments. May be we need to understant first what happened to the student we might have to look into it and take as a individual case and evaluate it accordingly.
Hi Amanda,
Wow, this is hard to be punitive since you do not grade on a numerical system. You may just have to have a firm conversation with them to express the importance of turning assignments in as to how it works in the workplace.
Patricia Scales
I am having trouble in this area- I occasionally accept late work from students, but they are graded on a pass/fail system (not a letter grade) per institution policy. It is hard for me to fail the student beacuse they turn in an assignment late. However, if I don't the problem continues with the student and this carries over into the workplace. Any suggestions?
Hi Patricia,
I agree! We should not encourage bad habit.
Patricia Scales
I agree with all your postings. I like the idea of having pre-established points deducted for each day an assignment is late, with all the points unavailable after five days. I'm going to apply this to late exams, too. Educators cannot reward students for bad behavior!
Late assignments without proper cicurmstance can turn the students in procrastinators, and that trait can harm further goal setting and accomplishments.
Hi Erin,
As instructors, we are going to make some students mad sometimes, but that is okay as long as we are being fair. It is easy, enforce your late policy and be fair to all. In the real world excuses will get them in big trouble.
Patricia Scales
I agree - students will often go to great lengths to be able to makeup the points they are going to miss from turning an assignment in late. I wish there was a way to communicate to them that doing the work in a timely fashion in the first place is less work than having to generate an excuse later for why it's late!
I also have the problem of students who request exceptions to the rules. My late assignment policy is clearly states in bold, underlined, capital letters on my syllabus, and we go over it in class the first day. But I always have students who want me to let them off the hook. Is this just a bit of a requirement of teaching? To be the "bad guy" sometimes?
Hi Michael,
Let's do a thorough job of preparing our students for the real world. Excuse won't fly in the real world. Implement rules, and the biggest thing is to ENFORCE them.
Patricia Scales
Hi , I agree with you, the rules need to be set, just like in the real world, there is no opps; my project is late, or excuse. Sometimes I think instructors treat adult learning like high school, these are adults and have to be able to function with the real things in life. Make the rules clear and stick to the rules. But do make the due dates known, and give reasonable time to turn in the work expected and do remind the students often,like a good boss does.. There is saying I learned in the Army, which is," A unit does well only those things the Boss checks".
Hi Jeff,
We must prepare our students for the real world and too many excuses can cause termination.
Patricia Scales
If a student has a special circumstance, I consider accepting a late assignment. However, I want the student to be ready for the real world. In the real world, excuses do fly when there is a deadline. People who purchase our goods and services are not interested in hearing an excuse. Missed deadlines only snowball down the supply chain.
Hi Maksuda,
I like giving my students reminders so that they cannot play the card of I did not know.
Patricia Scales
Hi
I think having deadlines in the syllabus helps the students understand from the beginning what is due and when it is due. Also it is very important to give reminders before the assignment is due and give them time to ask questions about the assignment. If the students get reminded and know what to do, they will do it and turn it in on time.
In the majority of my classes, I use 'writing to learn.' Prior to each class, students are given a discussion question to answer and submit. The discussion question prepares, reviews, and supplements material for a given lesson plan. If there are 20 classes, there are 20 discussion questions. I allow students to submit any and only two discussion questions up to 48-hours late without penalty or consequence. I use this exceptions provision being mindful that many students have unanticipated life and work events. This is a nonnegotiable policy that requires students to complete his or her assignments without excuses while emphasizing the importance of timeliness.
Hi Katie,
Yes, I have a problem with students that are habitual with turning in late assignments. I talk with these students to let them know how important it is to meet deadlines and how deadlines apply to the work setting. A talk normally helps the students improve.
Patricia Scales
I think that is a good idea to only allow 1 make- up assignment a week. Do you have problems with the same students turnng in 1 late paper a week?
I agree. The more chances that are given the more you are taken advantage of. I understand that sometimes situations call for bending the rules a bit but if a student sees they can get away with something it will end up happening more than once.
Hi Gwendolyn,
Don't give them another opportunity. The had their opportunity and did not use it in their favor. Some students will take advantage of you, if you allow them to do so.
Hi Joy,
Wow, some students will certainly go to great length to try to beat the system. Anything can be produced using the internet. As instructors we have to try our best to ensure documentation is real.
Patricia
