cronic lates
what are your thoughts on dealing with cronic late comers by startin the class on group projects and rewarding the groups who have full attendance
I don't wait on late comers but I have a professionalism grade that is worth 10% of their final grade. I take off 10 points for every day they are late. It can make a letter grade difference in their final grade.
I too have tried the quiz at the start of class, and with mixed results. I have found that with students that do not want to lose the points it is a great motivator, but for others they continue to show up late and just take a lower final grade. In my experience teaching in both technical and design programs, it seems that the technical students respond better to this method than design students.
Someone else had mentioned about group projects as a motivator, and I've had good results with that. The peer pressure and social shame of not contributing to the group by being late seems to have more of an impact than coming from an instructor. Maybe it's the Gen Y social effect, but I'll use it that my advantage if it works!
connie,
you make an excellent point about relating timeliness to work & especially to the potential of being a reference for them.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I totally agree with this. I use this method frequently. Relating timeliness in school to arriving to work on time seems to get the student to rethink their attitude on this. Also, knowing that a potential employer may call me for recommendations can prove helpful
Jodi,
this is an interesting observation & one to be taken seriously. The more engaged the students are, the more difficult it is for them to arrive late for the class.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Hi David,
I like your answer about tieing in the tardiness to going in late for work. I remind the students that the instructors have been working in the field for a long time, and they are connected to people in the community that hire our students upon graduation. I let the students know that often times these business owners ask our instructors who they would recommend to work with them, and it is highly unlikely that the instructors will recommend a student that is chronically late.
Hi David,
I completely agree with you. When I have students that chronically show up late for class, I will eventually give a test or quiz right at the beginning of class. Points are deducted for coming in late, and if the test is completely over with, they will receive a grade of zero.
I have found that when the class is interactive, and a student walks in late, he/she tends to be more embarrassed than if I am only lecturing at the time he/she walks in late. I think that it creates a feeling of disconnect from the other students when the late student shows up and sees the other students participating in the class discussion. The person that is late may feel that he has missed out on something that the other students participated in.
David ,
I really like the idea of connecting their behaviors to the results. Helping them see that there are results/consequences for their actions/choices.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I try to emphasize the importance of being on time by relating it to showing up for work on time. Your job will work with you for a period of time, but if they are late every day they run the risk of losing the job they wanted. I have tried several methods including have a quiz at the start that if they miss they lose the points for the quiz, but it gets down to their behaviour and if it is important to them to be seen as reliable.
Kris,
it is important to help the student see the impact of their behavior on others. I completely agree that we should be starting the class on time, without waiting for those tardy.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I agree with John that it is important to start on time for those students that are in class on time. For those that are chronically late I like to have the class all together applaud the late students arrival this not only lets the late student see that they are disruptive every time they are late also it lets the other students see that this is unacceptable. The power of the class as a whole works best.
John,
and if we have a student who is doing this, helping them to see the impact of their actions on others is a great reminder.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I think Kim's response is just about right on. Holding the group up for a moment or two is ok - on occasion, but if it reoccurs you set yourself up for disaster! Start and finish on time...and I'm naturally a procrastinator, but I know this to be true, people appreciate the facilitator respecting their time.
john armstrong
Justin ,
yes & a big part of it is helping them to understand the importance & how their tardiness impacts.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
What works for me, just continue to matter what happens or how many times someone is late, just keep reminding them. I know they have heard it before from other instructors, there going to hear it again from me until they understand the importance.
Sandra,
this is a great idea & one that I have incorporated as well.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I have participation points included in students final grade as well.
I will often make a brief comment at end of class in appreciation when everyone is on time. A simple reminder can often be helpful to emphasize the importance of being on time.
Joan,
and when they complain about this rule, this is a great opportunity to talk about the results for tardiness or absense in the work place.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I agree completely. Time management is a priority in school and in the work place. They are only hurting themselves in the long run by missing valuable class time which they are paying for. Part of my grade is class participation, they are receiving reduced grades for being late or absent. It aids in keeping them accountable. In the work place, on the other hand, is not so forgiving.
