Ivy,
I think one way to promote a good relationship with a student is to meet on on one to discuss grades, make suggestions, and offer support. This helps build trust and respect for one another too. Sharing grade information is one way to create a positive relationship.
Barry Westling
I continuously have students ask me about their grade and i think it really helps to have this information liocated in a central place they can go and check to get updates on every assignemtn and to see how it effects their grade. I think if they know their standing it also gives them the responsibilty of just how serious certain assignemtns and projects an be and the impact they can have on their overall grade.
It is our duty as instructors to keep students informed of their progress throughout the course in order to avoid academic failure and drop-out. In our program, all student averages are calculated at mid-term, and it is mandatory to provide academic advising and tutoring to any student who appears at risk of failing at mid-term. This way, at-risk students have the secod half of the course to improve their grade. In addition, all quiz/test/project grades, that are earned throughout the course, are posted regurlarly on the student portal for students to view. This system has been working successfully for our program.
this is important because it allows the student to have a sense of control over what is happening in the classroom, it gives them confidence to be able to access their grades without feeling awkward asking the instructor
James,
I agree, and that interaction can be especially important when sharing progress made in a class, when making sugesstions to individual students for improvements they may need, or sometimes just supportive words and encouragement to keep up doing what they're doing.
Barry Westling
I have found that more interaction you have with each student the better they seem to do.
Kimberly,
Right. Students have a need and deserve to know their progress. Both instructor and student are wanting successfulness, so informing them helps achieve that mission.
Barry Westling
So they know if they are bing deficient in a particular part of the course. If they are deficient then they should focus on that part.
Susan,
Yes, students need resgular reinforcement that they are on the right track, or if if help is needed, earlier notification can facilitate improvements needed to get back on track. Personal attention works best, as care and concern can be conveyed along with encouragment, which is more difficult to do in an email or via electronic gradebooks.
Barry Westling
It is important to keep students informed of their status in the course so they know they are meeting the course SLOs, it empowers them to take responsibility for their studying and commitment to their education, and it gives them self confidence when they see they are doing well. If they are not doing well the may be able to figure out what needs to be focused on and make adjustments or ask for help. Also it decreases any potential arguements at the end of the course that they did not know they were doing poorly, or had missed so many assignments, or had that many absences, etc.
Bridget,
Very interesting. This sounds like a continuous ongoing improvement activity. I'm sure the results ultimately help the class become more helpful to the students attending.
Barry Westling
Every week my students do (on their work sheets) a self evaluation first and then I do an eval. on their eval. of themselves! This is how the course is set up and it works well. they always know where they stand and where their weaknesses are.In the beginning they usually overrate their work- this is because they have not yet gained the complexity of the work.
Linda,
Students always appreciate knowing their status.I think one of the value added roles we can take on as instructors is making it a point to provide personalized, 1-on-1 discussions with our students. Instructors can provide more in-depth information than just static information on a page. We can also provide encouragement or related supportive help to assist motivating students to do a better job.
Barry Westling
I find most students are quite concerned about their grade from day one. I let them know they have an A on day one and that keeping that A is much easier than trying to bring up a lower grade. I also let them know they can come to me at any time during the course to check on their grade. My students are usually pretty sure what their grade is because they know what their attendance is (we discuss the first class how this affects their grade) and I hand back quizzes and assignments either the same day or the next class after the quiz/assignment. Our college does course evaluations the last week of a module. One of the questions asked refers to the student being kept informed of their grade throughout the course. It is my job to be sure they have access to that information at any time during the course. It also makes my job easier. At the end of the course I have very little work to do to prepare final grades. Each student usually knows their final grade before they leave class after the final exam. I realize this may be difficult for larger classes. Our classes currently average 8-12 students. Next week I will begin teaching a class of 18. I will need to stay on task to keep up, I'm sure!
Shawn ,
I look at it like we are concerned about a stiudents learning. And part of that target is regualr sharing of information that informs the student how close to the target they have progressed.
Barry Westling
This will help them focus on the task at hand and not worry about what their grade may be.
Hugo,
I believe even the best students doing well in a class can benefit from a personalized discussion about their progress, even if it's just advice or encouragement. Everyone needs support, and to receive it from the instructor is significant.
Barry Westling
Well they should not just be trying to just pass the class but to know where they are weak in and to work on that.
Donald,
Sometimes asking the student to stay informed (check your grade, review your quizzes) is enough to give a general idea. I have found that for me, when I provide individual advice and grade information, it goes further than if I do not. Sometimes clarification of why grades are as they are, or information about upcoming graded activities can help students prepare, and as a result, do better in the class.
Barry Westling
Alyson,
Electronic grading does help provide the grade information. What is also needed is some personal advice, suggestions, or at least encouragement from the instructor to complement the grade information.
Barry Westling
