Rigid curriculum
While I think that many of the suggestions in this lesson would be improvements, including offering to drop the lowest quiz score or giving more options on the assignments, some of these things aren't possible when you operate within a strict curriculum and a syllabus you don't have control over. Does anyone have suggestions? For example, during one specific course, there are 5 homework pages, 7 quizzes, a midterm, an exam, and that isn't negotiable. I'm curious if others have ideas to achieve the same results without needing to change these things. My guess is that the teaching style and in-class activities would make the difference but I'd like to know others' take on it.
Hi Ms. Hogan,
I can relate to having to teach an accelerated curriculum in a short period, and still meet the objectives for each class. Our classes were cut from 12 weeks to 6 weeks, and yet we teach with the same syllabi. It's a real challenge, and yet we (all the instructors and I) are getting used to it. My approach to autonomy with the students is to provide an optional retake on a poor test score, and after calculation, I offer to take the best of the two grades. Of course, it is not the same test, but the content is the same. I will usually take some time to go over the first test after it is graded, and then give the students a few days to study the material before the retake. I try not to get hung up on the grades, but focus more on the course objective, which is for the student to learn the material by the time the class ends. Some students will learn the first time, while other will learn after hearing it the 2nd time. The only extra time it takes out of my class is the time it takes to allow for the 2nd test. If I am short on time, I may offer the same option, but only offer it on a day that we do not teach so that it does not interfere with class time.
