Ninoska,
What you are enforcing as your policy in relation to attendance is very valuable for students because they need to learn self discipline. Their on time attendance will be required by their employers so they need to develop these employment traits early on in their career and you are helping them to do that.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
when discussing the syllabus I highlight the importance of their academic behavior and what i expect from them. For example since the school I work for works in quarters they are allowed to be absent only 8 hours. which are 2 days of class. I totally emphasize that and the importance of the homework. I like to give homework because for me that's a way to understand the material some people are not good in tests so I give them the opportunity to raise their grade with the homeworks
Mark,
Good plan for showing them how they can be successful in the course if they are willing to expend the effort and self discipline it takes to be successful. You are doing your part and they need to do theirs.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Stephanie,
Good one two punch in terms of student accountability. This way they know the expectations and you know that they know you know they know them. (How is that for the use of a lot of knows?) Often students try to shift their success or lack there of to the instructor. This cannot be allowed since it is they that enrolled in college and are trying to create a career path for themselves. They need to have the self discipline to be in class and do the required work.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I want the students to know that this is their time to gain as much knowledge as possible, to make them more effective in the workplace. Adhering to policy makes things smoother and allows for a better learning environment.
Methods and techniques I use to make sure students understand what I expect of them is to have them tell me what requirements are for the following class. I also score them on skill competencies so we can discuss any area of which they are lacking.
Corean,
This is a must in order to get the course off on the right foot. By knowing the course expectations the students can make plans for meeting deadlines and meeting the objectives of the course. The sharing of these expectations gives them a vision of what is to come.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I believe it is important to make your expectations clear in the beginning. This way the students know what is expected and there will be no misunderstandings.
Viviana,
I use a similar approach as do many instructors. This puts in front of students a sheet of accountability. With them signing the sheet they are taking responsibility for their future and career development. This call into account their self discipline and personal effort.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I have written out an outline of expectations, with permission from my director, of class guidelines and expectations. The students also sign this and we discuss this as a class. There is reference to the school's policy of behavior and dress code. I go over the basic and express the importance as this also pertains to their career. "We are preparing them in accordance to their field".
Renee,
Great way to set the stage for the class. This way from day one the students know what the expectations are and how they can meet them.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
By going over the syllabus, and/or homework log...I em giving them a preview of what to study and whne homework is going to be expected. This gives the students a clear plan of expectations.
The technique I you use to make sure that my students understand what you expect of them is to ask them questions, or maybe explain the purpose of the expectation and if they feel it is important. If they disagree, I allow reflection and engage student discussion.
JoAnn,
The more you can reinforce expectations the better. Your handout is doing just that. Students have selective memories at times when it comes to class due dates, projects and expectations. The more reminders the better.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Not only do I tell the students my expectation I give it out on a handout. This seems to be a great tool for the students because they can look back on it. I also ask the student what they expect from me as an instructor.
Carly,
Like your approach because as you know students have very selective memories when it comes to information being shared by instructors. They need to be reminded in multiple ways of due dates, project requirements and test times. Your approach gives them those opportunities.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I make sure that information about the course is provided in more than one way. I will verbally present the material initially, as well as provide a copy of the syllabus. I will also send a welcome email, and post the syllabus online. I provide a very detailed syllabus to make sure that all questions can be covered through the syllabus incase they miss something during my class explanation. I make sure to create an environment open to students' questions, I also stay after class to answer any individual questions, and also provide my email incase a student prefers to communicate that way.
Sandy,
This is a good way to make the policies of the course known from day one. Students as you know have selective memories when it comes to rules, due dates, and project requirements. So the more you lay it out for them and highlight your policies the easier it will be for you to remind them that you in fact did cover that expectation at the beginning of the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Joseph,
I like the way you explain the components of your syllabus. I especially like the way you explain plagiarism. I had never thought of it in this way. For some of my students and their lack of effort leading to their plagiarizing of I would start them at the felony level and work up from there. Hard to convince some of them that original means original when it comes to their work. Thanks for sharing this approach.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
To make sure that my students understand what my expectations are, I make sure to emphasize the areas that seem to get over looked the most, like the no quiz/homework make-up policy. I will even have them highlight certain policies as I go along for visual reinforcement.
