First Week
Some students that miss the first day do not realize how much they miss and never really catch up.
Tena--
You make great points about the 'pace' of the first day. It is a little fast-paced, confusing and has a lot of things students must get a handle on quickly. We often forget that. A strong orientation and consistent attendance go a long way.
Susan
I can not agree with you more about the importance of attendance. I feel it is up to the faculty to express during meetings about attendance and the importance of each student making it to the first day of class. It starts at the head with and during orientation from the Campus Representative and the student. So much information is given on first day and being your on a schedule and setting the tone of class on first day and plus first day should be fun and exciting. Not something that is feared!
Yes, but giving extra attention as faculty is time-consuming and often exhausting. Are there any methods teachers have used to help with this problem?
Thisis something that must be stressed very clearly during orientation. Their attendance is very important not only in the first couple of days but troughout the whole school year.
I agree, thats why it is very important from us (faculty) to give extra attention to the students who miss the 1st day of class.
I agree that they miss a lot of information on the first day and this is true of any class - the first day is a very important day. I feel that it is up to us, the teachers, to make sure that these students get up to speed.
This is so true and most will strugle for the rest of the course.
Having someone focused entirely on follow up is also very important, as is having all the appropriate information at your fingertips. I couldn't agree more that attendance is a major signal that something is very wrong. Same with my classes, if they miss the first 2 days then they are probly not going to show for the rest of the course.
first day is very important. we should do our best to help them make up the items missed when they do come in.
Many students do miss a greal deal of class time the first week, but they also miss the socialization with one another. I find it productive to continue some discussions about each other through out the first few weeks and expectations.
I totally agree. I have online students who don't show up the first day and then by day 5 they are panicky about their assignments, discussion and quizzes. Many times if they don't sign in on the first or second day I don't see them for the rest of the class. I try to email the ones who have not signed in just to check in. Sometimes they have dropped the class and I don't know but sometimes they are having difficulty with the blackboard system and need help.
