Make up test
Missed test should be made up within two days of returning to school after reasonable excused absent. When ever test was missed for nonexcused absent, makeup test will lose 10 points per day, and after 3 days can not be made up. Test should always be different and close attention to simlar questions should be checked.
Attendance should be checked since usual school accredication checks this very close. Attendance is the number 1 reason people are let go from employment.
Edward,
Tests measure the degree to which learning has occured. Students should be prepared to have their learning measured in the way the instructor has predetermined it will be.
Barry Westling
I try to play it straight up. For a makeup or retest I have stated on the first day that the test will be different than the original. If questioned beyond that I just look them in the eye and repeat that it will be different then move on to the next topic.
Latoya,
Clear expectations nearly always resolve any disputes about missed tests due to...whatever. We want to be fair, but we also want to be realistic. A missed deadline at work could mean the loss of employment. So, we don't do students any favors by establishing rules, then go about breaking them. It really sends (a subtle) innappropriate message.
Barry Westling
Hi,
I agree with your method for make-up test. However, I inform my students of their testing dates, well in advance. When I am reading over my syllabus on the first day of class, I inform them of my specific policies regarding any missed or late assignments. If you miss my test, on the test date, you need to be prepared to take the test on the day that you return to class.I will contact my student on the day of their absence by phone or email to remind them of the policy and that they should be prepared. I also remind them when they come to class after their absence and if they do not make up the test it is an automatic zero (no discussion).I feel that this places responsibility on the student and keeps them coming to class,especially on testing dates. I always print 2 or 3 versions of my test (Versions 1 and 2 are given out in class on the test date to minimize cheating and version 3 is for make up purposes).
Hi Michael:
Well, in the words of American Idol's judge Randy Jackson, "just trying' to be real, dawg!"
Regards, Barry
Have you ever considered politics? Good answer.
Hi Michael:
For me, I try to avoid being too tricky when it comes to class activities, rather, I want to err on the side of being accurate, direct, and honest. That said, if a student perceives something through inferrence, that's on them.
Regards, Barry
With a class that has attendance issues especially where tests are concerned, is there anything ethically wrong with hinting that the make-up test MAY be more difficult than the original even though it isn't? The operative word is MAY.
Hi Ellen:
This practice really varies among various institutions - from not allowing it at all to liberal policies, some involving penalties, others with no penalty. In the pureset sense, tests gauge to what degree learning has occured. So, however it's accomplished, guaging a students learning should be the focus, and less so about the grading (in my opinion).
Regards, Barry
