If I don't follow up, I don't know them as real people. Each assignment provides a moment for me to commend and recommend an individualized pathway to the student. It allows me to help them realize their weaknesses and strengths. Further, it allows them to see their progress through our program. Lastly, it demonstrates my concern for their success.
What might you add to this?
I believe everything is relevant to their personal and professional development. Follow up plays not only an important role in formative assessment but in employability. Students need to know up front that a good instructor (just like any good supervisor) will issue an assignment, tie it to the larger objectives, ensure accuracy, solicit feedback, evaluate performance (i.e. grades), and rate the process, the product, and the person for potential rewards and recognition.
Adult learners love recognition and rewards. That's another reason why follow up is important. It ensures fairness in the instructor's methodology.
To show them you are serious about assignments. If you don't follow up on them, why would they do them? Also to assess their learning.
Hi Diane,
Absolutely! You are definitely on point! We have to follow up so that we can know about our students understanding about various concepts.
Patricia Scales
It allow the student to see if they are on the right track. It allow me as an Instructor to know if my student is catching on to the assignment and where they are at in this course. It also give the student a sense that we care about there learning.
I have provided a homework credit that will calculate in their final grade. So this is important. I give 1 credit per homework assignment. If it is not complete, if you show me it's complete by the end of class, I'll give you 1/2 credit. I don't think it's fair to give a whole credit, when someone who stayed up the night before with children and a job did theirs to have it completed. I still think I'm generous by giving 1/2 credit.
I always check in with students while they are working on their assignments. This give me a change to not only see their progress but to answer any questions, redirect them and encourage them.
It is important to follow up on assignments and readings to solidify that the assignment had value and also to show the you care about the student's progress by evaluating the work where the student invested time and labor.
I find it more difficult to follow-up on reading assignments other than through quizzes. I find that when I question my classes as to how many read their reading assignment, that about 1/2 raise their hands. Some students report, "I learned the informaiton from being in this class."
I have written exams with a few specific questions from the text that I did not cover and told the students that I did this prior tot he exam. And, they still report they are not reading.
To make sure that they understand the course and are able to follow along with everyone.
Hi Jamie,
I concur! As instructors we should care enough about our students to want to know how they are doing.
Patricia Scales
It reinforces that you are serious about managing your class with fairness and objectivity. It also shows that you care about their personal success. Following up with student assignments will help students remain current and accountable for their outcomes.
The most important reason I see for follow up is make sure that everyone has covered and understands the material/skill before moving on to the next task that may be built upon the understanding of the previous skill.
It is important to grade work and get it back the next day if possible. It shows the student that their effort in completing the assignments are counted and graded.
Hi Charlene,
As instructors we should want to know if our students are grasping the various concepts or not. One way to determine if your students know what they are doing is to follow up on assignments.
Patricia Scales
Following up on an assignment gives me an opportunity ensure the student know my expectations and to clarify any questions the students may have. It will engage the students in discussion of the assignment and possibly peak a student who is distracted into participation in the assignment and discussion.
To show you are serious about the assignments and care that they follow through with them.
Patricia,
As a teacher, you are also a role model for students. They need to know that the teacher thinks the assignment, and the time the students spend on the the assignment, is important. For those that haven't done the assignment, as well as for those that have, you are reinforcing the requirement.
Bill
goal of why you are teaching in the first place
It's important to me as a teacher, because it gives me an opportunity to show the way each and every assignment could be interpreted based on the knowledge and ability to use learning skills. In classes I offer about 3-4 questions to cover the main points of the assigned chapters. It always take my students about 30 minutes to answer them in writing. When I collect the assignment I always offer them (using overhead machine) the way I would answer the questions. It helps to continue discussion, consider different point.
Hi David,
I concur! Students see how interested we are in their success when we follow up, and they also see how important the assignment really is.
Patricia Scales
