Students need feedback on their performance, be in on a test or a lab activity. We use iPads and electronic gradebooks. The student sees their grade immediately.
Donna,
Very true. We'd like our students to be responsible (and accountable), but many times they are not. Sharing grade information also provides a way to offer our advice, encouragement, and instill hope for successful completion.
Barry Westling
I feel that an important reason for keeping the students informed of their status is to make sure they do not fall behind on classwork and to prevent them from failing the course.
Rosalyn,
The feedback received by students from their instructor is nearly as important as the instruction itself. Students want direction, and for me, personal communication with students is more beneficial than mere electronic grade posts or written emails. I like to establish rapport, and perhaps build trust.
Barry Westling
It has always been my professional and personal experience that students want immediate feedback of their status in the course and what is expected of them. I always grade exams and course work immediately and give feedback on their papers when they are doing good and when they need to rethink an idea.
I believe as a professional it is my responsibility to give immediate feedback to reduce potential crisis and curtail any anxiety on the part of the student.
Reece,
Yeah, that one on one is cool. I like to convey my interest in the students success, and that we are both working towards the same goal. Support and encouragement with a dose of kindness never hurts, and may help build trust and respect.
Barry Westling
Informing students starts from the very beginning of the class in the syllabus. Students are provided a rubric on grading and have full knowledge of how they are going to be evaluated. As students progress through lectures, pre-tests, quizes and discussions provide a two-way communication to the instructer and the student. Always taking an open commuicaive stance helps students discuss needs if their preformance wavers.
Jamie,
Plus, communication and rapport with students can be created, along with trust and respect.
Barry Westling
Informing students of their status throughout the course can benefit in a couple ways. If they are doing well it will encourage them to keep up the good work. If they are doing poorly it will help them to see they need to adjust or seek help.
Corean,
Also, I make it a point to convey when, where, and how grades will be distributed, and I share that on the first day, backed up with the details in the course syllabus.
Barry Westling
Jonathon,
Communication is so important. I use my one on one time to share grades to also offer my support and encouragement.
Barry Westling
This helps with students success because if they are not doing well, you can let them know where they are at and gives you an opportunity to encourage them to do better. Lately I have been having the opposite, students rushing through and doing too much, so I encourage them to slow down and spend more time learning the projects. Spending more time will help them retain the information.
Its human nature to want to know how you are doing in a course. Students respect an instructor more whom give them their results right away. So they will know what direction to go with their studies.
Virginia,
Surprises are always awful. Can we prevent less than wonderful news? Absolutely. And regular feedback is the key.
Barry Westling
Jacob ,
Feedback is so important. Students will operate in a vacuum if their instructor does not provide regular feedback, suggestions, and advice on making any needed improvements.
Barry Westling
Gretchen,
Good, frequent feedback should be like a routine process. Students can't operate in a vacuum. Also, our comments can be quite valuable if the students value them.
Barry Westling
I believe it helps the students with self assessment. It also helps me as an instructor keep focused on the students that need more help, or a different approach.
No matter how the student responds, the action plan starts on the instructors end.
So they know how they are doing in a course. It is one of the main responsibilities of an instructor, keeping students up to date on their progress. A student may be failing a course. If they are not informed of their progress they may think they're doing just fine and continue at status quo.
So the students aware of where they stand in the course / whether they need to course correct (pun intended) the level and type of effort they are putting in / they are not surprised by their midterm and/or final grades.
It is important to keep students informed of their status in the course at all times so as to measure the growth process from the beginning of the course all the way to the end point of the course.
