The incident of students not showing up on the first day of class seems to be on the increase. Our program runs 17 classes long and each class runs 3 weeks long. Each class starts with review of school policy and rules so a lot of students just feel they do not need to hear it again and do not come to class on the first day. To combat this epidemic we had decided to place at least two “LAB” activities in the first day, these activities need to be done in the classroom/lab environment therefore cannot be made up and turned in later resulting in a ‘0” grade for those lab assignments. If the student is a student who usually has a higher grade point average he usually does not want to take the hit for those points which would lower his grade. If the student is a lower grade point average student he knows that he cannot afford to start off behind the “8” ball and it forces him to come to class. All classes adopted this theory so students will show up on the first day. If a student presents a verifiable reason for missing the first day he may be allowed to make up the assignments but there cannot be a pattern of first day out in his history.
Hi Joshua!
It sounds like we read the same instuctor the manual - I use same approach but I do provide students the opportunity to meet with moe by appointment only, if they have questiions.
Good work!
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
When the students who missed the first day arrive to class on the second day, I give them their paperwork and a very brief explanation and then treat them as I do the students who were there the day before. I tell them they are responsible for getting any notes from fellow students. When the quizzes are graded on that Friday the students who missed the first day usually do very poorly. After they see their quiz grade they make a point to be in class on time.
Good morning Theodore and David!
Great question and David I really appreciate your firm approach.
As I was reading Theodore's question, I, too, was thinking about consequences of one's own actions. Instructors/facilitators are in a classroom to help students achieve positive outcomes which assits them in making positive life choices.
It is ultimately a student's responsibility to be present and prepared - instructors responsibility to be perpared, informative and - again - the facilitator of learning.
From an information sharing standpoint, I always make sure that students who are absent get printed materials from missed classes and make myself available - by appointment - to answer questions.
Firm but resonable is my approach.
Theordore, how do you plan to handle this situation that is invaribly going to occur?
Keep up the good work.
Jane Davis
ED107 Facilitator
I agree with the trend that you are commenting on, I have been seeing as well. I have found that bending over backwards to help them is just as bad as telling them nothing. I have balanced this a little by getting them to buy in to taking responsibility for thier absence. In doing that they are accepting the responsibility for all of the hard work it will take them to catch up. The consequences will catch up to them quickly, but they will have to accept those as well.
