Course expectations
I have specific course expectations for each course and at the beginning of a course I advise all students to read these expectations. While I know some students do not read them, when emailing me or asking me questions that I have already outlined in the expectatiions, I refer them there, it saves me a lot of time having to answer the same questions over and over and it gives them the answers they need.
Hi Marisa,
No you aren't doing anything wrong. There are just some students that don't "get it" no matter how clear you are in giving directions. I am always amazed at the these students. I wonder how they function in life because they miss the directions no matter how many times they are given. I just take a deep breath and go over the information once again. If they ask questions of this type and they take time away from the class I have these students talk to me outside of class. I have found that when I ask them to spend time outside of class on getting the directions given again they often start listening better since it is their time that is being used.
Gary
Although, no matter how much you try to inform them, there always seems to be one or two students who never fully grasp the course expectations. Is it something I am doing?
Referring students back to the course expections...now why didn't I think of that!?! But of course.
Thanks, I will start doing that instead of reinventing the wheel.
Joe, I also like to spell out as much as possible in my welcome letter and list of expectations. It can be frustrating when students email me with questions that I have discussed in the letter and referring them back to it forces them to take ownership of reading the posted information. Hopefully this practice gets the message across that they must begin each class armed to the best of their ability by good preparation!
