The best way to make this type of student responsible is to confront them and ask them if they were employed, do they think their boss would accept the excuses and the blaming o fothers for mistakes or procrastination on their part? The answer will be no!
The student may understand what you are saying to them. They may not!
I explain that when discussing issues, we need to speak about those present only. I ask the student what their role is in the situation, explaining that we all have ownership when involved in situations. I ask what I can do to assist in improvement of their issue(s).
I believe a discussion with the student about their blaming others for their short comings needs to happen, and the discussion should be how we the instructors can help the student complete their tasks and goals. We also need to discuss that the student needs to learn to accept responsibilities when they fall short of an assignment or task. We need to be mentors and pass our coping skills on to our students.
Teamwork does help, as it lets the group do alot of the work for you. The only issue for me in this area is to avoid letting them pick their own teams for certain major projects, as the blamers tend to hang out together.
I first hear them out and then focus on them and solutions. By doing so it eliminates excuses and helps guide them back to becoming a more productive successful student in school and in life.
I think it is interesting when dealing with students with this particular issue. It is always interesting to see how they react when it is shufted back into them. Most instances, they realize their mistake or issues on hand and it usually dies down.
I will emphasize the importance of team working, and in different consistences team work is necessary to succeed.
I agree with Thomas but wish to stress the need for privacy as we discuss these things with the student in question. We can blow them out of the water (and class) or potentially draw them in and help them find their educational drive for life depending on how we handle this consulting and confronting meeting.
Hi Victoria,
I've heard these responses as well, but it is still no excuse. Students must realize for every choice there is a consequence. If you choose not to do what you are suppose to, then it is your fault not someone else's; students must realize this.
Patricia
Hi David,
Absolutely! Students must learn how to take responsibility for their own actions.
Patricia
Hi Mary,
Absolutely! I relate everything to the workplace so that students can understand what will be expected of them. Excuses simply do not work in the workplace.
Patricia
This seems to be a problem that is getting more pervasive. I go over the requirements every time we meet. I point out that as a professional, the client expects work to be completed when promised. I do my best to make the class operate as if it were a real-life situation, where excuses don't work.
I try to ask them questions that will eventually lead them to an answer that will help them understand that they are ultimately responsible for their actions and choices. If I lay out simple and to the point instruction for them, and if I follow the syllabus and school policies, than they have no excuses and it's nobodies fault but theirs.
The response I have received from students often is that they state they did not really read the chapters, or they did not allow enough time to prepare for the exam, or they had three other exams this week or had 40 hours of work this week and ran out of time
Hi Victoria,
This question really gives the student something to think about. What type of responses do you typically get whenever you poise this question?
Patricia
Dispite the situation, ask them what could they have done differently to have had a more successful outcome?
Hi Patricia:
I encounter this type of student and try to work individually with them to resolve their issues and accept responsibility for their learning. It takes patience and careful listening to their point of view first, then careful shifting of thoughts and opinions to help them see how they might overcome obstacles. It cannot laways be everyone else's fault. The statement that I mind is "Such and such teacher gave me a bad grade". Hopefully, they got what they earned.
John
Hi Elizabeth,
If the student admits to cheating, it is definitely violation of the honor code. Research should be done, and the parties involved should be reprimanded. This will put a stop to all this nonsense.
Patricia
Sometimes you encounter difficult students,but when it comes to assignment and examination, if they failed they always blame the one that actually did the homework and they just copied it from them stating that thats what the got from the other person. How can I address this situation?
I assign them personal task with no way out or make them work close by me . They have to stay focused and have the task done.
