Terry,
I think sharing of progress is essential and as important as learning the course material. Weaker students need to know where improvement is needed. Stronger students can be reassured of their succesful progress. All students can be given support and encouragement.
Barry Westling
Students need to know if they are meeting minimum course requirements if struggling or how much they are excelling when things are going good. Being able to give a quick calculation always seems to motivate students.
Eric,
Some students need a lot of coaching, while others just want the basic facts. Either way, an integral part of any class is the informing students about their status. It is as important as the class content.
Barry Westling
Harrison,
When my boss stops by and says something like, "hey I appreciate you for what you do", that goes a long way. It's not so much a formal evaluation, but it can be a real motivator. So when I give a student their grade and/or attendance information, a good dose of support and recognition for effort can contribute in a positive way, beyond just grade information.
Barry Westling
Lawrence,
Even my "A" students deserve to be recognized and can benefit from encouragement. But, as you say, students with areas the need to work on should be conveyed early on so there is time for any adjustments to have an positive impact on their grade.
Barry Westling
Students should know how they are doing in the coarse to keep them motivated and let them know you are serious about getting them to learn it.
Basically to let them know where they stand and their progress, strenghts and weakness. just lkie when we get evaluations at work.
It allows the student to know how they are doing and what they may need to do to improve his or her weakness
Wendi ,
I agree. I think personal and frequent chats with a student regarding their performance can make a significant contribution to the success of a student. Print or electronic information is OK, but I think a personal chat along with other methods can help convey our interest in their success.
Barry Westling
Students deserve to know how they are doing in the course, it helps the instructor and the student determine areas that need improving. It is also a way to inform students of a bad score early and create an action plan to help the student succeed.
Lynn,
This is a good tool to track performance, and probably saves some time if the students keep it up to date. I still like to spend personal time even though we use electronic grading, attendance, assignments, and course work.
Barry Westling
Part of keeping students informed of their course status also helps them to begin to take responsibilty for their education. At the beginning of each course I give the students a blank copy of the grade sheet and I encourage them to note their test grades throughout the course. I tell them I do not give them mid-term grades, that they need to keep track of where they are. I also tell them I am keeping a close watch, and if I become concerned I will meet with them. What I have noticed is that they are coming to me when they aren't doing well- they are being more proactive.
Peggy,
As reasonable as possible I agree that it's important to give out grade information as soon as possible, but not sooner. We should set expectations for when gradaed materiala will be distributed, then stick to that expectation. Soon, students learn that they can trust the word and actions of their instructor.
Barry Westling
Vera,
The personal touch is really needed in spite of automatic grade and attendance postings. It's like their textbook; all the information is there but do the students use it all? Same with electronic grades and attendance. When we can point to outstanding work, or alternataively, areas that may need atatention, that gives us the opportunity to encourage and offer support and show we care.
Barry Westling
In this day and age of instant messaging and the internet, the adult learner is used to looking up or getting information fast! So fast that sometimes they ask for an Instructor to grade them now! Just imagine you are awaiting a Medical test result, everyday is anxiety until you are called that the test was fine. Peggy Weber
We encourage our students to keep track of all test dates, lab check off dates, outside work and their test/exam grades. However, we also have a system in place to notify them per our policy. At the fifth week of every module , we do progress reports that also include # or tardies, absences. etc. Throughout, the program, the students can log in to a website we use and check all of the above. I have found that helping them keep track of grades and attendance makes a difference in terms of those that advance to the next module and those that are dropped from the program.
Kendall,
Right. No surprises. Plus, if there had been a regular dialog all through the course, trust and respect are enhanced.
Barry Westling
It not only keeps he student informed of how they are doing so they can feel confident about the work they are doing or make adjustments to what and how they are studying for the course. It also helps the instructor to have the students know where they stand all along in that it reduces the number of discussions, or even arguments, at the end of the course when final grades are submitted.
AnnaMarie,
Right. No one wants surprises at the end of a course. Some times students fall below the threshold for passing. I never want that to happen without feeling that I have done everything above and beyond to make sure the student knows their status, and have been given ample help and time to make needed corrections.
Barry Westling
Tanya,
You're right, we have a duty, to provide competent instruction, and to provide timely information regarding the students progress towards their success achievement in the class. Technology can help. I run weekly reports and if students are hovering around a low "C", I'll make time to have a chat. This is in addition to other formal methods I use to measure and inform progress.
Barry Westling
