Students want and need to know what is required of them in order to succeed in each class. The student should not have to do any guesswork when it comes to how they will be evaluated in the course. As the course progresses and grades are discussed with the student, the instructor should be able to clearly show why the student has the grade they do based on the requirements that were spelled out early in the course.
Clarity of course requirements, how classtime will be spent and the understanding how application of this knowledge will be applied in the future is important to a successful understanding of how one fits into a profession.
you allow the student to have a clear picture of what is expected of them throughout the coarse.
My classroom is a virtual room and having an open and level playing field is very important to many people. As a provider of knowledge through two live chats each week, I want to offer a road map to success for each student. I find that when the student is given a clear definition of what is expected, required and demanded by the course they tend to relax and open up. The "ice" is broken and the conversations are much livelier.
to ensure that students know the expectations of the instructor as well as the course expectations.
Educational courses are a contract between many parties. First between the educational institution and student, and secondly between instructor and student, and finally between institution and instructor. It is imperative that the course requirements taught by the instructor first aligns with the expectations of the institution and also is clearly described and followed in the active class room. The course syllabus represents both a guideline for the instructor and student alike. It is imperative therefore that the student has a complete understanding of the course requirements as described in the syllabus.
There may be cases where a student, for whatever personal reason, might transfer to a different school within the system, so it is in the instructors benefit and students that these goals are clear as they will transfer ,and align, between these separate schools.
Giving a comprehensive and clear description of the course requirements sets the tone for the entire class. It helps the student to begin some self assessment of what previous experiences and knowledge they might have to draw on to help them with the current course content. It also helps them to predict if there are any areas they anticipate possibly needing additional help.
Bill
Adult students like to know what is needed to pass a course. They like structure, guidelines and information on policies and procedures up front. When the requirements are clear from day one it helps students take accountability and plan for success.
Sharing comprehensive and clear course requirements take the guess work out for the students and provide a more effective learning environment. If a student realizes what is requird of they are more apt to want to learn. In every class I give an agenda before I begin. This gives them some time to write down what we will be discussing and plus helps to keep them focused on the material. This is no different than course requirements. If I give them a list of these in the beginning they will be more attentive to the requirements.
It is important so that there is no misunderstanding as to what will be required in the course. This way the students know completely up front what they will need to do and can make sure they are up to the "challenge"
Hi Kenneth,
I use the saturation model when I work with my students so I give them a handout as well as the verbal instructions. I have found that they need this reinforcement as to what the assignment is and what is expected. This reduces the volume of emails and when I receive them they are very focused on specific questions so I can really help the students with their assignments.
Gary
I've been struggling with this the last two classes. It seems that everyone understands the assignment before they leave class, and yet I get a lot of emails indicating otherwise. I may need to hand out written assignment instructions . . . As that's what I end up doing via email with most students. Is that a good idea? Or, should I only send the written instructions to those who email and want them?
It is important to give the students clear and comprehensive course requirements so that they know what they must complete, learn and accomplish in the class. They will also know when assignments, tests and projects are due.
It helps the students understand the goals and objectives of the course. They will understand the expections you have for them and the preparation needed.
It’s important to discuss requirements and set clear expectation on the first day of class. I typically reiterate requirements and expectations throughout the course and sometimes to specific students that are not meeting the requirements. I also think by providing students with good feedback helps to clear up any misunderstanding associated with the class requirements.
When you give a clear description of course requirements students understand what is required of them to do well in a class. They understand what they need to do to first of all pass the class, and second what to do to receive a grade that they want to obtain. It also protects the instructor in giving clear requirements in written form so that if a student comes up to them at the end of a quarter complaining and not understanding why they got the grades they did; its a way to refer back and show the student they received the information.
This lets the students know what is going to be expected from them. This should hopefully ease their mind about about any of the "unknowns" involved in the course.
By setting the tone and guidelines from day one it gets the ball rolling on the correct foot. Encouraging students and letting them know the expectations of you and the school.
However follow through is very important
If requirements are not comprehensive, clear and concise, the resultant ambiguity will create confusion for the students and nightmares for the instructor. The description must be conveyed in writing and reinforced as you introduce the material to the class. I find it helpful to ask the students what their expectations are from the course and then correlate those expectations to the material contained within the course. I think this helps the students understand not only what they are learning, but also why.
It defines the benchmarks for the class so the student can determine the extent of rigor they need to put into their class education. If the student is taking more than one class, this also assists them to determine how best to allot their personal time for study in order to succeed in all classes. Finally, by establishing clear expectations, future frustrations re: what is required will be eliminated or limited, thus promoting the educational process.
